Olympic Champion James DeGale will look to carry on his devastating run of KO performances against granite-jawed Welshman Nathan King in Newcastle. DeGale, who won gold in Beijing last year, has won his last three fights by stoppage and is eying his first title fight in 2010. But first he has to past King in a six rounder at the Metro Radio Arena on December 5, where he will form part of the under-card to Amir Khan’s WBA World Light-Welterweight title defence against Dimitry Salita. And hot-shot DeGale, still only 23, has vowed to become only the third man to stop King, who has kept good company. “He’s going to be dangerous because he’s fought for titles before, including a version of the world super-middleweight crown,” said DeGale..
“The only people who have stopped him are (former British champion) Tony Quigley and (world-rated Frenchman) Jean Paul Mendy so that tells you that he’s going to be tough.
“If I can do a number on him then it is going to send out a big statement to the domestic division.
“Back in March he fought Kenny Anderson up in Scotland for the Celtic title and I thought he won that fight quite easily, but he lost it on the scorecards.
“This is the kind of fight I need though right now in my career.
“I’m really buzzing in the gym at the moment and I want a challenge because I feel like I’m getting better every day.
“People have only seen about 10 per cent of what I can do at the moment.”
King – a 28-year-old from Mountain Ash – won’t be fazed by facing DeGale as for years he worked with Joe Calzaghe.
And he’s also gone the distance with the likes of Tony Oakey, Tony Dodson, Stevie McGuire, Eric Teymour and Anderson.
“James is a great talent but I’ll be far too experienced for him,” said King. “He’s still a baby in the pros and I’ll give him a lesson he won’t forget.”
Tickets are priced at £30, £40, £50, £85, £125, £200 and £300, and are available from:
Metro Radio Arena
0844 248 5013 (dedicated line)
www.metroradioarena.co.uk
RENDALL READY FOR ITALIAN TEST
RENDALL MUNROE has vowed not to blow it in his make or break fight at Nottingham’s Harvey Hadden Leisure Centre on Friday night (20/11).
The Leicester southpaw (19-1) will be making the fifth defence of his European super-bantamweight against Italy’s mandatory contender Simone Maludrottu (30-2).
Promoter Frank Maloney is sweating on the WBC sanctioning the fight as an eliminator for Toshiaki Nishioka’s 8st 10lb world crown.
Maludrottu has been one of Europe’s top fighters this decade, but 29-year-old Munroe said: “I have only watched a few rounds of him on DVD.
“I leave all the tactics to my trainer, Jason Shinfield.
“I go into every fight with a Plan A, then a Plan B and Plans C and D if they are needed. I’m ready for whatever Maludrottu has got.
“All this talk of a world title fight is great, but I am not looking beyond Friday’s fight which is the most important of my career.”
Among the hopefuls on the undercard is Southampton middleweight hopeful Tony Hill (1-0) who Maloney believes is the sleeper in the division.
Maloney said: “Tony is a southpaw with a decent pedigree. All the talk is about George Groves, Tony Jeffries and James DeGale, but this kid could be one to give them all a fight.”
Tickets for the star studded Nottingham show priced £85 and £35 are available from www.frankmaloney.com and 0871 226 1508.
TALENTED YOUNGSTER JONES GETS PRIZEFIGHTER OPPORTUNITY
TALENTED Welsh prospect Barrie Jones gets his Prizefighter chance after Barry Morrison has had to withdraw due to a viral infection.
Jones, 24, a former British Welterweight Championship contender, will be fighting for the £32,000 top prize in Prizefighter Light-Welterweights next month.
Matchroom Sport Chairman Barry Hearn believes Jones, who has won 16 of his 19 professional contests, could cause a big upset.
“We welcome Barrie Jones into the Prizefighter line-up where the format of three rounds should suit Barrie’s explosive style,” said Hearn.
“Despite Barrie’s losing challenge to Kell Brook for the British Welterweight title, Barrie’s dynamic punching will make him a betting outsider to follow in Prizefighter.
“He has absolutely nothing to lose and everything to gain so I’m expecting fireworks from him from the first bell.”
Jones, who hails from Ferndale in Wales, won his first 15 professional contests but will be hungry to prove a point after losing to Brook in June 2008 then a hugely-controversial narrow points loss against former World Champion Souleymane M’baye later that year.
Prizefighter Light-Welterweights is the latest event in Barry Hearn’s Prizefighter Series where eight men fight in a tournament over one action-packed evening.
The winner will collect £32,000 and Prizefighter Light-Welterweights takes place at the National Hall, Olympia, London on Friday, December 4.
This line-up is the strongest ever as former World Champion Gavin Rees is among the eight, as are Ted Bami, Colin Lynes and Jason Cook, who have all held European titles.
Former British Champions Young Muttley and David Barnes are also included, while undefeated youngster Michael Grant and highly-rated Jones complete a strong line-up.
Tickets cost £40 (unreserved) and £80 (reserved) and are available from See Tickets on 0870 903 9033, www.seetickets.com or from Matchroom Sport on 01277 359900. All the action will also be screened live on Sky Sports.
The full list of competitors is: Ted Bami (Brixton, London), David Barnes (Manchester), Jason Cook (Maesteg, Wales), Michael Grant (Tottenham, London), Barry Jones (Ferndale, Wales), Colin Lynes (Hornchurch, Essex), Young Mutley (West Bromwich, West Midlands), Gavin Rees (Newbridge, Wales).