The boxing world might be glued to the happenings of this week’s heavyweight title fight in Germany, but James DeGale and Lucian Bute will also lock horns for the IBF super-middleweight title in an intriguing battle in Bute’s native Canada. Here’s what the two men and their trainer’s have to say going into this weekend’s fight.
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DeGale
“It’s on – fight time is finally here. I feel like a beast. They think it’s going to be a boxing match, but it will be a destruction. It will be explosive. Three rounds – place your bets. Trust me.
“I fought the best super middleweight southpaw out there in Andre Dirrell and look what I did to him. Once he feels my power that will be it. I’m going to start fast and throw loads of punches.
“I watched him against Carl Froch, watched him against (Librado) Andrade. He’s great in the center of the ring, but I’m not going to stand there. It won’t be a chess match. I’ll start fast and we’ll see how he takes it.
“Carl exposed him and I’ll finish him. But I don’t care about Carl Froch – he’s old. I’m the new champion. If he wants this belt, he’ll have to come get it.
“I’m an old school fighter – I don’t mind travelling to fight in my opponents’ hometown. He was a great champion who has fought some great fighters so I should get kudos when I beat him.”
Lucian Bute
“It’s a great opportunity to fight for my old belt in front of my hometown fans. I think they’ll push me toward the victory. I’m looking forward to becoming world champion again.
“I think he’s the best super middleweight in the world right now, but I’m very confident in myself. I had a great camp. I’m just ready to become world champion again.
“I’m healthy, I feel great physically. I have the power to knock him out and the skills to box him. Now I have a chance to take back my belt against another English fighter.”
Jim McDonnell (DeGale’s trainer)
“I’ve tried to come back and do what Lucian has done and it’s not easy. Tune in on Saturday night because what I’ve got is special, and you’ll enjoy what you see. It’s tough to win your world title back. I respect Lucian for trying, but James is a world class fighter. He’s ready for everything.”
Howard Grant (Bute’s Trainer)
“We did everything we had to do. Lucian is 100 percent prepared to surprise everyone on Saturday. Lucian knows what wearing that belt is all about – he wore it for about five years and he’s coming on Saturday to take it back to where it belongs.”
(Image credit: Fightnews.com)
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