By Edward Chaykovsky
IBF super middleweight champion James DeGale (22-1, 14KOs) is very willing to face Gennady Golovkin (34-0, 31KOs), if the IBF/IBO/WBA middleweight champion decides to move up in weight.
DeGale, an Olympic gold medal winner, had a banner year in 2015 with capturing his world title and gaining victories over Andre Dirrell and Lucian Bute.
Golovkin is looking to continue unifying the middleweight division, but that might be easier said than done, with several of the other beltholders aligning themselves with rival cable networks.
WBA 'regular' champion Daniel Jacobs is fighting on Showtime and the networks working under the Premier Boxing Champions umbrella. WBO middleweight champion Andy Lee is set to defend his title on Showtime against Billy Joe Saunders. Lee's last defense was carried by PBC.
Saul "Canelo" Alvarez holds the WBC title at 160-pounds and fights on HBO like Golovkin, but there is no guarantee of that fight taking place.
"I would like to think that I probably am the No 1 fighter at 168lbs out there," DeGale told Sky Sports. "I'm the IBF world champion and I'll beat (Badou) Jack or (Arthur) Abraham or whoever.
"If Golovkin stepped up and wanted to fight me then why not? I've always said I'm in boxing for the big fights and all the titles, so if he moves up and he wants to fight me - let's do it. He's a bit of a beast Golovkin, he is good. But as I say, I'm confident of getting in the ring and boxing anyone.
"Golovkin has been put up there - pound-for-pound one of the best in the world - but once I have done all my training, I've trained hard and I get in the ring, I'm confident of beating anyone."
