Spaniard fires warning to DeGale
Spaniard Jose Maria Guerrero has warned James DeGale to knock him out early or face a shock defeat.
The pair will meet at the Liverpool Echo Arena on 9 December, when DeGale will defend his WBO Intercontintental super-middleweight title against the wily 34-year-old.
DeGale’s European crown will not be on the line as the Harlesden man is expected to make a February defence of that title against mandatory challenger Cristian Sanavia, who is not yet ready to fight.
And Guerrero insists DeGale is in for a rude awakening if he regards next month’s clash – which will be screened live on Box Nation (Sky channel 456) – as a warm-up bout.
- Promoter Frank Warren wants DeGale to fight for a world title next year.
Guerrero declared: “I will give him some advice: destroy me quickly. If not, you will have a big problem.
“If he thinks that this is the easiest fight of his career then he will have a big surprise.
“This is the biggest opportunity of my career and I will make all the necessary arrangements for me to win and come back to Spain with the title.
“I’m not accepting this opportunity for money. I’m accepting it because I will win and fight for the world title myself next year.”
Guerrero has a record of 29-2-1, with one of his two losses coming against German Mario Veit, who once challenged Joe Calzaghe for the world title.
“In my life I only know boxing so if I want a good future I can’t lose this fight. My options are win or win,” he added.
“I think that this hunger is my strength. I need to win and I will win. I want to show the world who Jose Maria Guerrero is.”
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