DeGale poised to overcome Froch nemesis
Jame DeGale (15-1) aims to prove himself against a man who has already beaten Carl Froch, when he defends his WBC silver super middleweight title against Croatian Stjepan Bozic (26-6) this weekend, at Glow, Bluewater in Kent, live on Channel 5.
DeGale wants to meet IBF and WBA super middleweight champion Froch in a domestic dust-up but knows he must first get past rugged veteran Bozic.
Bozic defeated Froch in the 2000 European championships in Finland, ending his dream of making it to the Sydney Olympics.
So DeGale knows he cannot take Bozic lightly and will be looking for an impressive performance to move a step closer towards a battle of Britain with Froch, although he doubts the Cobra will face him.
"Boziz has beaten the great Carl Froch, so he's not someone you can underestimate," said the 2008 Olympic gold medalist.
"I will fight Froch anywhere, anytime, but the thing is that I honestly believe that he doesn't fancy climbing into the ring with me. I fancy it with any world champion, but I don't think Carl Froch will fancy it with me. He says he will end my career, but I think it is the other way around. If I beat him his career is done, finished. People put him on a pedestal where he is some sort of monster and no-one can beat him, but he has been beaten."
After suffering his only defeat as a pro, a points defeat to domestic rival George Groves, DeGale has won his last five outings and hopes to continue his progress towards a world title shot by beating Bozic on Saturday.
"He was a very good amateur and won a silver medal at the Europeans. His pedigree is good but I'm on a roll. I want to become the first British Olympic gold medalist to win a professional world title."
Bozic said "I have plenty of respect for DeGale - he won an Olympic gold so he has to be very good. I can understand him talking about fighting the likes of Froch but he has to beat me on Saturday and he will have to be at his best."