The Brilliant but Infuriating Chunky

[Bodyshot3]

Last night the proverbial penny dropped for me about why James divides opinion so much. He was brilliant and infuriating in equal measure.

There were times when Chunky hit Dyah Davis, a well-schooled American, with whichever combo he fancied throwing. His hand speed was sensational and the way he danced in and out of range was pure class. Davis was demoralised; he could barely land a shot and seemed booked to be stopped.

But then James did it again! He switched off; no head movement, punch-rate fell through the floorboards and we got this weird business of not stepping fully out of range or getting close enough to stop Davis working. He got caught right in the middle of no man's land.

Davis (clueless up until this point) clawed rounds back, gave James a bloody nose and little Jimmy McDonnell was squeaking with exasperation in-between rounds and having to give Chunky a pep talk.

Dyah looked like a non-puncher who doesn't like chasing fights; but he was getting success and at the back of my head I knew that if James did that against Bika, Groves, Ward or even an ageing Kessler he'd get dropped and stopped. And if you leave the front door dangerously ajar like that against Froch, then Carl kicks the thing clean off its hinges and ransacks your house!

James won easily, was coming off a longish lay off and Davis was no mug; but I am seriously concerned by this tendency James has to completely outclass a guy (and look like a superstar) only to suddenly run out of juice, ideas and look so hittable/vulnerable. It is real hero to zero stuff.

I think McDonnell needs to be far harder on James when it comes to the business of pacing a fight and perhaps also rethinking the way they train.

James is so explosive and fast, but the top guys can ride out these storms and know that they've got 12 rounds to work with. Right now James looks like a 100 metre sprint king trying to win 400 metre medals.

McDonnell needs to get a grip in my opinion; he's got a great talent to work with but a star who needs to change his gameplan and listen some more.

Your thoughts gentlemen!

[Cleaver]

Well thought out post.

For the first four rounds I was impressed enough to consider his future relevance in the top tier of the 168 division. Clever use of range with the typical hand speed. His movement and diversity impressed me.

Then somewhere in the middle he just decided to stop working. As you say if he does that against the main obstacles between him and the WBC strap (Bika, Periban, Jack, Dirrell, Chavez Jr etc) he's going to drop another decision. He does have the whiskers though.

I've actually warmed to him as a person since the Groves fight, but my brain says talent isn't enough without focus and guile.

Plus I cant figure out whether the 'I don't want to go on about it, but my knee is still only 95% recovered' line is him trolling us.

[PrinceNaz88]

For a start I don't rate McDonnell as a trainer and think DeGale should have left him after the Grove's fight.

Bit concerning that DeGale keeps complaining about his knee. The previous fight the knee was sorted but now it is back to 95%. What is going on? Will it ever be sorted?

And regarding the fight..DeGale boxed nicely bar the 2 rounds or so he fell asleep. Thought Davis was poor though, was expecting more from him and maybe that is why DeGale was not fully concentrating due to the lack of fight Davis put up.

[taansend]

Didn't see this last fight yet but great post of the OP.

I keep hearing that his stamina is suspect but if there's one thing that Jimmy Mac will make sure his fighter has it's fitness, no matter what else.

Maybe he really thinks he is that good & gets bored during a fight & switches off. He's still only had the one very narrow loss so I'd really like to see him step up to fight a top opponent.

Against Groves I thought he lost it more than Groves won it. He seemed to back off more than once when he had George under pressure.

I can't say too much either way until I see him fight one of the current top guys (not counting the Groves fight as he was such a total w@nker before that).

Will be a shame to waste his obvious talent. I waited years for Britain to win an Olympic Gold & then we get a few (over & dozen years) & he & Audley have been disappointing so far.

[Tom Cruise]

I really think he's hit his ceiling with Mcdonell. The flaws that seem to be so obvious, and have been there for a while, just dont seem to be getting fixed.

He has so much ability, more than most of our other fighters imo, but I just dont think its being put to best use at this time.

He needs to act quick though, pro careers can be over in a flash if you arent careful!

[frosty-g]

I keep hearing that his stamina is suspect but if there's one thing that Jimmy Mac will make sure his fighter has it's fitness, no matter what else.

Will be a shame to waste his obvious talent. I waited years for Britain to win an Olympic Gold & then we get a few (over & dozen years) & he & Audley have been disappointing so far.

i dunno about mcdonnell and fitness, there's different types of fitness of course, and i'm not sure that guy knows the difference between tough mudder fit and boxing fit. that's just from bits i've heard about the way he trains de gale.

so audley has been disappointing so far?! he still got you believing?! (ha ha, just joking with you)

[mickey malone]

Don't see any hunger in DeGale whatsoever.
Says, he's got Froch's number. But I think Carl would destroy him tbh.
Jim McDonnell is'nt to blame. He fought the best, and knows the score.

[Bodyshot3]

Interesting feedback gents and some wise words. And I do think there's a case to be made for James being far more focussed against a more dangerous man. With someone like Froch breathing fire and brimstone on the other side of the ring....you're going to be at Defcon 5 levels of alertness.

But the nub of my argument is that when James steps back and tires to take a couple of quiet rounds things invariably unravel. He does this so badly, either sitting on the ropes or standing flat-footed and within range. Hence the No Man's Land comment.

He's got the talent and tricks to keep moving away from fighters so why suddenly get stuck in these mini-ruts and let some pretty average guys back into the fight?

I contend it is because he is gassed and does not pace himself at all well.

He's actually very fit (hence his ability to invariably find a second wind) but he does not measure his workrate at all well and at some point he leaves himself static and unable to fire back.

And that's where McDonnell needs to step in and really get his man to listen during a fight. There's a pacing issue there and it could be his undoing.

[soul_survivor]

Against Groves I thought he lost it more than Groves won it. He seemed to back off more than once when he had George under pressure.

Precisely! DeGale turned off for large chunks of the bout and allowed Groves to box his way in and land shots whereas Chunky refused to throw anything back. It's a problem that has persisted and we've seen him do it over the weekend against a decent opponent. For about 5 rounds DeGale looked like the real deal, fast, smooth and highly accurate. He made Davis look like a part time journeyman...and then he turned off, is it physical or psychological? I personally think it's physical, Chunky sagged against the ropes, lost stamina, breather heavily and couldn't put together combinations.

these are bad signs because even against b level champions in this division, he will get hurt and they will come at him. If he can't bring his stamina up he might have to move camps.