DeGale snubs Mayweather opportunity
Brit won’t join legend’s stable
FLOYD MAYWEATHER JNR has made fresh contact with potential new signing James DeGale but the Londoner insists he will resist the Money Man’s millions as he plots a route home with Eddie Hearn.
DeGale, the IBF super-middleweight champion, has not boxed in London since featuring on the Carl Froch v George Groves card at Wembley in May 2014.
His past four fights, including the one in which he won the world title, have all come across the Atlantic and he is itching to return to his hometown.
But after January’s draw against WBC champion Badou Jack, his opponent’s promoter, Mayweather, revealed his desire to sign DeGale to his stable too.
Now DeGale has revealed that the undefeated icon has got back in touch about a potential deal. The 31-year-old said: ‘I didn’t know if he’s all talk, all chat. It’s the weirdest thing though — Floyd Mayweather texting you. How do you reply to that? He’s mad though, just does one word answers and stuff.’
The showdown with Jack was the final fight on DeGale’s contract with Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing. But ‘Chunky’, insists he will stick with Hearn to make a return on home soil. ‘Me and Eddie are working together,’ DeGale added. ‘He’s the main man. I want to come home now, I haven’t boxed in London since Wembley. After my last fight the respect I’m getting is crazy — that’s all I wanted: earn money, get my title and be respected.’
However the draw with Jack has thrown DeGale’s next move into doubt. Had he won, he would have faced compatriot Callum Smith.
But Smith now looks set to face Anthony Dirrell for the WBC strap after Jack’s choice to vacate his title and move up a weight. That has left DeGale without a partner for his June homecoming, though a fight with Smith — or a derby against Groves could yet happen.
He said: ‘Groves and Smith, go up weight, down weight, there are so many options out there for me.’
And is Chris Eubank Jnr one of those? ‘He’s on the radar. It’s a massive fight but he’s boxed nobody and brings nothing to the table other than a name.’