By Mark Vester
One of the more highly regarded prospects in British boxing, middleweight James DeGale, is going to train and spar with five-division champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. at the end of July. DeGale, a 2008 Olympic gold winner, faces Ciaran Healey at Manchester's MEN Arena on July 18. DeGale and his trainer Jim McDonnell met Mayweather in London during last month's media tour for Mayweather-Marquez.
"We have an option to train with Mayweather in Vegas," said DeGale to the BBC. "To be in the gym with Floyd will be unbelievable. Floyd is one of my favourite fighters ever. He's a boxer who can dig deep when he needs to. Mayweather is a proper showman - I love his attitude. He has all the skills. If I'm half the fighter he is, I'll be cool."
McDonnell told the BBC that sparring with Mayweather and other American fighters will enchance DeGale.
"We're going to use the summer vacation as part of James' learning curve. All we've go to do with Mayweather is finalize the details," McDonnell said. "We also have an option to train with Ronald 'Winky' Wright in Miami and Jermain Taylor at Gleason's Gym in New York. We want James to train and spar with world champions."
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