By Sulayman Bah
Gambia’s ring king Badou Jack will Saturday battle English boxer James DeGale.
The battle which will see WBC Super-middleweight champion Badou Jack cross daggers with UK’s IBF Super-middleweight champion James DeGale, would undoubtedly be the Gambian’s toughest fight with his WBC world belt on the line.
The two were tipped to face-off initially last year but continuous talks stalled the plan.
The combat is sure to be an intriguing one with a unification belt on offer. Badou is a WBC champion and James an IBF title holder with winner of the contest to be announced the World’s best in the Super middleweight division.
The much talked about ring fight is one promising to be a crunch episode as Badou takes on DeGale, who like the Gambian, has only one lost to his name.
Speaking ahead of the must-watch clash, 32-year-old Jack said: ‘I always seem to be the underdog and I’ve been written off before. I am not expecting an easy fight. DeGale is awkward. But I’m not worried. They say speed kills and I know he’s fast. But for me it’s all in the timing. And my timing kills his speed.’
But which of them is fated to suffer his second defeat? Jack says: ‘The guy who wants it most and is smartest in the ring will win. That’s me.’
Badou switched his allegiance to Gambia in 2008 and represented the West African nation in the Beijing Olympics but suffered an early exit –the same tournament that James would later win.
Jack took the world champion belt following his win over Anthony Dirrel, George Groves before drawing Lucian Bute.
