EDITOR’S LETTER
Degale, despite his recent loss, has achieved so much more than most
Why James Degale should feel proud
WHEN James Degale dominated Paul Smith inside the Liverpool Echo Arena seven years ago, he looked like a superstar in the making. He was faultless that night and, perhaps unfairly, he has been judged by that standard ever since.
What he has gone on to achieve should not be underestimated. A loss to George Groves hit him hard, yet he rebounded to win the European title, defend it away from home, defeat several world-level contenders before claiming the IBF title with a stirring victory over Andre Dirrell in America in 2015.
That success, despite it being a tremendous standalone effort, was expected to be a mere springboard towards world domination. It didn’t quite work out that way, though. Three successful away-day defences followed, culminating in a punishing, face-bending draw with the brilliant Badou Jack. But while the performances were gutsy, none were as flawless as the “Smigga” all those years ago.
Each outing was a struggle it seemed, and Degale – as a consequence of that early expectation – ended every bout searching for excuses as to why he wasn’t perfect, rather than being allowed to celebrate that his title was still intact.
I’d venture if it was anyone other than Degale, the marmite 2008 Olympic king, we’d have been declaring his accomplishments as exceptional. How many other Britons can boast they’re unbeaten in four world title fights on foriegn soil against quality like Dirrell, Lucian Bute and Jack? Perhaps Degale has himself to blame given the cockiness he has displayed while setting the bar so high, but that self-confidence is what made him such a success in the first place. And underneath all the bluster is a kind-hearted man who wants nothing more than to be the people’s champion.
His potential may also have been his biggest curse. Think of recent British leaders like Anthony Crolla, Ricky Burns and Darren Barker, for example. None were expected to go beyond domestic level, so were quite rightly hailed as national heroes when they won their world titles. But the guts they displayed were revered in a way that Degale’s efforts were not.
It was thought he was wasting his natural gifts. But what if, and this must be a possibility given the back-to-back wars he’s endured in recent years, he cannot actually perform any better? What if we all, Degale included, expected too much?
Two-and-a-half years after he became the first Brit to add a professional world title to an Olympic gold, we invited him back. But this would be no welcome home party. It was disaster.
Yet again, everyone looked at Degale’s ‘potential’ and presumed he would destroy the criminally overlooked Caleb Truax. Many even dismissed it as a pointless mismatch. What people refused to consider was that, despite a slew of injuries piling up alongside his gruelling 12-rounders, Degale might actually have reached his peak several years ago.
He will know better than anyone. And his obvious distress, as words and excuses escaped him after losing his belt following another head-socking marathon, suggested he might well be asking himself that very question.
And if the answer is yes, retirement should be the only option. Fighters with styles like Degale – so reliant on speed and exemplary reactions – rarely get better in their thirties.
But that acknowledgment is the hardest thing for a fighter to admit. Particularly one as gifted as James Degale, who has carried the burden of expectancy for too long now. Still only 31, Degale could surprise everyone and come back stronger. But take his age in a different context, add up the many years he’s been taking punches, both in sparring wars and high-level contests, and it’s hard to imagine they will have a positive effect on his future.
One hopes that Degale can return and become a roaring success, but if he just stops and reflects on his medals and titles, he should realise he became that a long time ago.