Confident DeGale eyes world title shot

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James DeGale says he is ready to fight for a world title following his victory over Gevorg Khatchikian.

The Harlesden man successfully defended his WBC Silver super-middleweight title, stopping his opponent in the 11th round.

But he did not have things all his own way against the Netherlands-based Armenian, who appeared to stun him at one stage and also inflicted a cut near DeGale’s right eye.

However, DeGale insisted: “Trust me, the better the opponent, the better I’ll box.

“Because it’s so easy, I switched off. But it’s about moving on now and just getting that world title. That’s what it’s all about.”

Saturday’s fight was intended to be a warm-up for a final eliminator for a shot at the world title held by WBC champion Sako Bika.

But the scheduled opponent, Badou Jack, suffered a shock defeat 24 hours earlier when he was beaten in the first round by unheralded American veteran Derek Edwards.

DeGale’s promoter Mick Hennessy, backed by the British Boxing Board of Control, is now lobbying the WBC for DeGale to be installed as the mandatory challenger to Bika without the need for an eliminator.

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