By Edward Chaykovsky
IBF super middleweight champion James DeGale (22-1 14 KOs) is getting prepared for his upcoming defense against Rogelio Medina (36-3, 30 KOs), but he has bigger goals on his mind.
The Medina defense takes place on April 30th from The Armory in Washington, DC.
Also on the card, Badou Jack will defend his WBC super middleweight crown against former IBF king Lucian Bute.
If DeGale and Jack are both successful, they are being positioned to fight each other in a fall unification. The recent departure of Andre Ward, who himself moved up to 175, has left a gap at super middleweight. A winner between DeGale and Jack (should both win their upcoming fights) could set up a new leading man at the weight.
Beyond a potential unification at super middleweight, DeGale says he is interested in moving up in weight to challenge WBC light heavyweight champion Adonis Stevenson (27-1, 22 KOs).
"Well I was only saying that [I would move up to 175] because I want to be the underdog again. It feels like my last four fights I've been like the favorite and I want to be the underdog, I want a challenge...So I said Stevenson is a good fighter, a banger, a puncher, I'm willing to do that. I'm willing to obviously go up in weight and fight someone like that," DeGale told BoxingScene.com's Declan Taylor.
Besides Stevenson, there are several other options like WBO/WBA/IBF champion Sergey Kovalev, Olympic gold medal winner Andre Ward, unbeaten contender Artur Beterbiev, and more.
DeGale views 175 as one of the toughest divisions in boxing, and that's why he will need to choose his opponents - if he moves up - very carefully.
"Very good division, a tough division. Probably one of the hardest in boxing, trust me. So you'll have to pick carefully who I want to fight. But Adonis Stevenson, I think I can beat him," DeGale said.
