• UFC 120

Hathaway trains with Olympic champion DeGale

ESPN staff
August 26, 2010
John Hathaway steps up his training camp

John Hathaway's hands looked pretty sharp in his victory over Diego Sanchez, but he should be on a whole different level when he meets Mike Pyle at UFC 120.

Hathaway has been training with Olympic boxing champion James DeGale at London Shootfighters gym, improving his stand-up ahead of the October 16 event.

The 22-year-old welterweight recently told ESPN.co.uk that he believes his hands have improved beyond all recognition since making his UFC debut in January 2009, and it is easy to see why after watching him spar with DeGale.

Showing improved footwork and shot selection, Hathaway enjoyed the better of his first two rounds against DeGale, and he confessed he is learning everyday off the British Olympian.

"DeGale's a great kid and I love having him down here," Hathaway told ESPN.co.uk. "It's great if I can work anything off of him.

"He's a southpaw and Mike Pyle's an orthodox, but DeGale's such a talented guy that it's just great to work with somebody like that.

"Even if it's just a couple of rounds here and there, it's really good."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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