• Super-middleweight

DeGale 'close' to world title shot

James DeGale beat Stjepan Bozic on his last outing © PA Photos

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James DeGale will face Dyah Davis when he makes his return to the ring at the Glow Arena, Bluewater on November 16.

DeGale will defend his WBC silver super-middleweight title against the American Davis, who lost out to WBC super-middleweight champion Sakio Bika last year.

"I see Davis as a really good test and I want to get in there and stick on a great performance for all the fans and do a good job on him," DeGale said.

"I know I'm only a couple of fights away from a world title, so I want to go in there and do a good job on him. But, that said, I'm not looking past Davis - I give everyone I face respect and this is no different.

"Let's be fair, he's been in with some top fighters, he's faced Bika, so if I get in there and do it better than him, I think I'm making a statement and it will show I am world-class."

Promoter Mick Hennessy is targeting a world title shot for DeGale, who he believes is close to establishing himself alongside the world elite.

"For me he's [Davis] obviously a world class, US super middleweight," Hennessy told the Daily Mail. "I think it's good for James to face that style of fighter at this stage of his career, to prepare him for the very best he'll face.

"It's a good gauge on the Bika fight, to see how James compares against that. James is very, very close to a world title fight. There's potential for the winner of [Carl] Froch versus [George] Groves, or [WBA champion] Andre Ward. But we'll look to take the fight that we think is the right one."

DeGale has enjoyed two victories in 2013; first he knocked out Sebastien Demers in Canada before seeing off Stjepan Bozic at the Bluewater in June.

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