DeGale topples King but it's an unconvincing win

Dec 9 2009 By Tim Edwards, Harrow Observer

JAMES DeGale insists he is still on course to land a British title within the next year despite producing arguably his worst performance since turning professional.

The 23-year-old Harlesden fighter edged to an unconvincing 40-37 points victory over Nathan King at Newcastle's Metro Arena on Saturday night, his first to go the distance since his shaky pro debut back in February.

However, his pre-match preparations were thrown into chaos just minutes before he entered the ring for his fifth pro bout, when TV scheduling reduced the six three-minute round middleweight contest to just four.

As a result, the clash was not one for the purists and DeGale, far from demonstrating the venomous punching that left Cumbrian Ally Morrison reeling in his previous fight in October, struggled to hurt the dogged Welshman.

After a cagey first two rounds DeGale, sensing there was not

much in it, started to out-box King and left his mark with some neat combinations. However, the Mountain Ash warrior is made of stern stuff and caught DeGale with a straight right despite visibly tiring in the final round.

The Olympic gold medalist admitted it was a far cry from his demolition of Morrison in Liverpool, but was anything but concerned.

"My last fight was probably my better performance," he said. "Nathan King is a tough, tough operator, a spoiler. He is durable and been around a bit and has held his own with the likes of [Tony] Quigley and [Tony] Dodson.

"I was confident, but if it had been six rounds, I would have put him out of it. I started a bit shaky but I'm coming on nicely. This is just a stepping stone to where I am going and that is right to the top."

DeGale's promoter, Frank Warren, backed up his claim.

"I felt sorry for James. He had mentally prepared himself for six rounds and, had it been six, I'm confident he would have stopped him."

Warren, whose other British Olympians Billy Joe Saunders and Frankie Gavin also came through stiff tests, added: "These guys have come though and shown what the future of British boxing is. This time next year they will hopefully have belts wrapped around their waists. I really think that if these guys focus on their careers and do not get distracted outside of the game, they can go far."

The trio are scheduled to fight again in February.