Mum staying away from DeGale's Wembley bout
James DeGale admits even fighting "a stone's throw" from his London home will not convince his mum to attend Saturday's fight.
The 2008 Olympic middleweight champion makes a long-awaited return to his hometown a year after turning professional when he meets Matthew Barr in his sixth paid fight at Wembley Arena this weekend. DeGale's family will be present to proudly watch their boy with one notable exception of his mom.
DeGale said: "I did try to convince her to come to this but in a way I'd rather she doesn't, because I'd just be worried about her. She panics, her lips go blue and her heart pounds, so I'd rather she chill at home!"
DeGale added: "Wembley Arena is literally a stone's throw from my house, I run past it every other day when I go for my run. I get that nice feeling in my stomach when I go past thinking 'I'll be there in a few days'.
DeGale has boxed all over the country in his five fights so far, starting in Birmingham on his debut last February and including Belfast, Manchester, Liverpool and Newcastle.
He has made no secret of his eagerness to fight in his native London for the first time since his Beijing Olympic triumph, though.
"Finally it has come," he told Press Association Sport. "I've boxed all around England, in Ireland, everywhere apart from London. But now it's come. I've sold nearly 400 tickets myself, the atmosphere is going to be great.
"I'll appreciate it even more now because I've waited a year for it. "I definitely want to put on a show in London. I've got a feeling this is going to be my best performance to date. It's going to be explosive with speed and power."
Saturday's bill is topped by Nathan Cleverly's bid to win the vacant European light-heavyweight title against Antonio Brancalion and Kevin Mitchell's lightweight bout against Colombian Ignacio Mendoza.
Mitchell is gunning for a world title fight after his nerveless dismantling of Amir Khan's conqueror Breidis Prescott in December.
Date published :
11 Feb 2010 - 16:48:53
