By Declan Taylor

IBF SUPER-MIDDLEWEIGHT champion James DeGale is now set to face Rogelio Medina as his mandatory challenger after an illness put paid to an expected clash with Jose Uzcategui.

And, after winning his title and then successfully defending it on the opposite side of the Atlantic last year, it is likely that Londoner DeGale will return to home soil for his clash with ‘Porky’ Medina.

The 30-year-old had wanted to set up a unification fight with WBC champion Badou Jack, who is also advised by Al Haymon, this spring but when that trail went cold, he decided to take care of his mandatory challenger instead.

That had meant a showdown with tough Venezuelan Uzcategui loomed but it has now been revealed that he has had to pass up his opportunity due to illness meaning the IBF have identified Medina, 36-6 (30), as the next in line.

It had been suggested that DeGale’s defence could have been part of the April 9 show topped by Anthony Joshua’s challenge for Charles
Martin’s IBF heavyweight title at the 02 Arena but it is understood ‘Chunky’ may now headline his own card across London at Alexandra Palace.

Eddie Hearn said: “He wants to box on April 9, he was due to fight Jose Uzcategui, who is now out with an illness, so he will fight Rogelio Medina.

“We are looking at the possibility of April 9 or maybe a stand-alone show on May 14.

“Obviously we were due to take a weaker and cheaper opponent than Charles Martin with a bigger undercard

“Now a lot of he money has gone into Charles Martin, we will still have a strong undercard but it won’t quite have the depth of the original undercard.”

DeGale won the vacant title by dropping Andre Dirrell twice en route to a decision victory in Boston last May. He then outpointed Lucian Bute in Quebec, Canada in his first defence in November.

That victory, he insisted, would open the door for money-spinning fights against the likes of Jack or even Julio Cesar Chavez Jr in Las Vegas.

There is a chance that he may face Medina in America, according to his promoter Hearn, but England currently seems more likely before Chunky sets up more lucrative showdowns later this year.

Hearn added: “It will still count as a mandatory as the IBF have just gone down the list. It means he will have fulfilled that obligation so he is free to look at whatever fights he wants afterwards.

“Hopefully it will be in London but the option is to do it in America but I’d like to see him back in the UK after winning the title and then defending it on the other side of the Atlantic.”