By Ben Jacobs

IBF super middleweight champion James DeGale received criticism in some quarters for his performance in his recent victory over Mexico’s Rogelio ‘Porky’ Medina.  The general consensus was that Medina, a strong fighter, had always fallen short at the highest level, including knockout losses to Badou Jack and Gilberto Ramirez.  Nevertheless, he was able to withstand DeGale’s shots as well as land some solid ones of his own.  BoxingScene.com recently spoke to DeGale’s trainer, Jim McDonnell, to analyse the fight and discuss what comes next for the Londoner.

“For me it was a quality performance from James DeGale, it was a boxing masterclass, I watched the fight again today,” Jim stated.  “People say that because he didn’t stop him or knock him out that it takes a bit of glitz of the performance.

“James is a buzz fighter, there was no buzz in that arena at all, it was like a public sparring session.  The next fight will be on a big show either in Las Vegas or London.  He’s also a rhythm fighter, and the two go together.  He had that buzz against Brandon Gonzáles (at Wembley Stadium), you could see it.  I think you’ll see it against Badou Jack. 

“James is excited, he was already back on the track with me today, he had a really good session,” McDonnell detailed.

“You can just see he’s got the bit between his teeth, he didn’t have that with Medina.” 

It would appear that DeGale and Jack will meet in September, likely in the United Kingdom for a unification clash.  McDonnell insisted that he when the boxing public will see the best of his man.

“With Badou Jack there’s a difference, he will perform.  I think Jack is tailor made for him.  James will go in there with the chance to unify.  Of course he trained hard for Medina but he was very, very confident.  For this Jack fight he feels challenged, he can’t wait for it.  I can see the difference already.

“To be at his best he needs to be challenged, and the WBC belt will be on the line.”

Medina, and his team, claimed in the post-fight press conference that they were robbed of victory, pointing to the bruises on DeGale’s face as evidence.  McDonnell rejected that notion.

“James is mixed race and even when he spars with a head guard on he has marks on his face from the dye of the gloves or whatever, and yet the next morning he’s ready to spar again with no marks on him.  It was the same in this fight, he was marked up after it but the next morning he didn’t have a mark on him.  He has that kind of skin that marks up.  Also sometimes the weight has something to do with that.”

Is DeGale close to moving up a division given that he is a big super middleweight?

“Once James cleans up at super middleweight then maybe he will step up to light heavyweight. 

“I want to see him unify the belts, obviously you get politics involved but getting the WBC would be a good start.  He’s the best at 168lbs, no doubt.”