• Super-middleweight

Froch won't block my path to world title, says DeGale

James DeGale insists his next fight will be for a world title whether WBA and IBF super-middleweight champion Carl Froch chooses to step in the ring with him or not.

DeGale is mandatory challenger for the IBF belt and Froch must fight his fellow Brit before the end of February or vacate his title.

Promoter Eddie Hearn revealed talks are ongoing in a bid to arrange Froch-DeGale later this year, although it is believed Froch's preference would be a swansong in Las Vegas. DeGale, though, says he will fight for a world title regardless.

"I'm boxing for the world title in my next fight," DeGale told ESPN. "Eddie is confident that he [Froch] will fight me. I'm not so sure, there are talks of him going to Vegas but he has to fight me before the end of February.

"If he goes and boxes out in Vegas in October, he isn't going to fight me in February so I'm not sure. Those dates don't mix right.

"There are talks of [a fight at] the O2 in October, but if it's Carl Froch it could be somewhere else like the Millennium Stadium. Somewhere like the O2 is perfect for me. Carl likes that venue, he's had a couple of good nights there and I'm willing to go there and fight."

He added: "I've been pushing Eddie for the past couple of weeks to get the fight with Froch. That's what I'm about; the big lights, the big stage and the big names.

"This year I'll be boxing for the world title. It's about making history and becoming the first British Olympic gold medallist to go on and win a world title."

DeGale was back to his best on the undercard of Froch's Wembley rematch with George Groves, knocking out Brandon Gonzales to establish himself as the No.1 contender.

While he described his Wembley win, fought in front of 80,000 fans, as the "perfect night", DeGale is itching to get back in the ring.

"I'm feeling on top of the world," DeGale said. "I'm feeling nice and refreshed and ready for the next fight now. I'm just waiting my next move to be confirmed and I'm ready to go. I'm ticking over in the gym, I've not put on too much weight - I'm ready.

"This is the difficult time because you need a focus. You need a date, but I've got all confidence in Eddie Hearn that he'll give me that world title fight."

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