• Super-middleweight

DeGale vacates European title, targets Froch

James DeGale has relinquished his European super-middleweight belt to chase world titles © PA Photos

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James DeGale wants a shot at Carl Froch after deciding to vacate his European super-middleweight title to fight for world honours.

The 2008 Olympic gold medallist won the belt last year and has successfully defended it twice, outpointing Fulgencio Zuniga in Hull earlier in December to add the WBC silver title.

Now with a minor world title to his name, the 26-year-old is convinced the time has come to step up his chase for a world championship, prompting his decision to walk away from the European belt.

"It has been an real honour to be EBU champion and it's a shame that I have had to choose between the two championship belts I hold," DeGale said. "However, I feel my decision to relinquish the European belt is the right decision at this stage in my career.

"I've won it and defended it twice and I feel the best course of action is to defend my WBC belt en-route to a world title.

"The WBC belt will give me a wider choice of world-class opponents."

Top of that list for DeGale is IBF world champion and Nottingham native Carl Froch, though his ambitions do not end there.

"I'd love to fight Carl and for British boxing that would be a massive fight," DeGale added. "If I can continue to progress and keep on winning, then it would make sense for us to fight.

"If everything goes right, I hope to fight for the WBC title next year, either as the mandatory against Andre Ward or for the vacant title if he decides to give it up.

"I think Carl would like a big domestic world title fight before he retires. He didn't get it against Joe Calzaghe, despite years of trying, and hopefully he could get one against me.

"He's the sort of fighter who will fight anyone, he likes big fights, and if I can win a world title, that would make it a big fight."

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