Top 102 Quotes & Sayings by James DeGale - Page 2

Anthony Joshua has smashed it, he's one of the biggest sportsmen in the world but when you talk about boxing careers I've done just as well as him.

In this country, I don't get the respect. And that's not me being stupid, or bitter about it.

The right shoulder is vital, being the one with which the southpaw employs his fast, and very effective, jab, which remains the cornerstone of his work.

I've done everything, I've boxed at the Barclays Center in front of 15,000 people, I've been in a unification fight... I've done everything.

When I won the world title against Andre Dirrell, I was edgy and a bit scared that I didn't want to lose, but you saw I was on my game.

Just because you are a good amateur, it doesn't mean you're going to be a good professional.

I used to love tap, that was favourite, and a bit of street dancing. Ballet I tried to avoid.

A mega fight to me is a fight that I am in and people think I am going to lose. I am the underdog. Golovkin, it's a perfect fight. It's a hard fight, but a fight that I think I have a fantastic chance of beating him. He's not the biggest middleweight, so if he moves up in weight, I am going to have the size advantage.

Coming out of the Olympic Games, I was the golden boy and I got put up on a pedestal. I got stuff handed to me.

99.9% of fighters would do anything to have the career I've had, yet people keep telling me to make changes. What for?

The only difference between me and Anthony Joshua is that he's made more money. He's a heavyweight and thats the blue ribbon division but that's the only difference.

I had cartilage sticking out my nose. I couldn't breathe out of my left nostril.

I've done it the hard way - first Olympic gold medallist from Great Britain to win a world title, the 'road warrior.' I love that tag because I do travel.

I was 80-1 to win Olympic gold.

When I've made enough money so that my family never have to work again, I will retire.

It's been a successful and enjoyable career for most of the time. I've lived the dream and done everything in boxing but sometimes it feels like I don't get the credit I deserve.

There were talks about going into the jungle, 'Strictly' and 'Big Brother' - and I'm a good dancer so I'd smash 'Strictly.'

Badou Jack ain't a trash-talker. He's very respectful.

A lot of things I did were cringy. I look back at interviews, seeing the way I talked and the way I am, and it is embarrassing. I came back from the Olympics, I was shoved in the spotlight and I couldn't cope that well.

Eubank is tough, he's game, he's strong. He's just like his dad. But he struggles with the boxing bit.

A lot of greats from England have fought in New York. I remember when Naseem Hamed fought at Madison Square Garden against Kevin Kelley and knocked him out.

I love watching old fights. It's hard to watch the black-and-white footage, although I know about Randolph Turpin and people like that, but I'm talking about Hearns, Haggler, Leonard, those guys. Sugar Ray Leonard, he was way before his time, throwing bolos and all that, those big wind-up bolo shots.

Against Dirrell I was thinking: 'Hold up, he's not as fast as me.' I can hit him with my left hand. It's a wonderful feeling.

There is a pressure in this country that comes from being a boxer with an Olympic medal and then turning pro.

Boxing is a hard sport, I've been doing it for a long time since the age of 10.

I only want the big fights.

I think that's one of my main attributes. My movement, my speed, my feet.

I'm a big Gooner, a die-hard.

Boxing is fantastic in the States.

I actually like boxing away from home. It takes the pressure off you a little bit.

I'm scared of failing. I'm scared to lose.

I want the biggest fights, the biggest risks, the biggest money. All the titles. That's what I want.

I train very hard in the gym and that's the thing that people don't see.

Dirrell was very skilful. He'd only lost once before me - to Carl Froch in Nottingham - and he gave Froch so many problems. So I was very nervous before that one.

When I retire, if people see me on the street and remember me, just give me a smile. That's all I want.

I had a 180-degree tear around my shoulder, my AC joint needed stabilising and a tear in my rotator cuff.

I was fighting on PPV for British titles, making good money from pretty much day one, so how can people who I've never ever met before tell me that I've made wrong decisions in my career.

I know what is best for me. Sometimes it's nice that people care and want to help out, but look where listening to only myself and those close to me has got me.

I like nice things, I love money really, don't I? But I don't love the fame side. All I care about is my world title, being in big fights and being known for that.

Being an Arsenal fan, at the end of every season I say the same thing: we've got a good team, a young team, hopefully, we'll be in the running for the league title next season.

A lot of people have been saying I am obsessed with the "making history" thing. But it's what pushes me, it's what drives me, it's a huge boost knowing that I am going to be the first. There's a long list of Olympic champions that have become world champions, but none of them are from England.

There are negatives in fighting away from home: you're not in front of your home fans, you don't have your home comforts, but I have travelled the world as an amateur and I have always managed to bring back medals. I enjoy it a little bit more when you're the underdog.