James_DeGale's Blog by James_DeGale

It’s been an eventful two weeks what with training, filming and preparing for my fight. Training consisted of: 25/30 min conditioning session involving Stairmaster & arm cycling workout/60 minute session aero box/body punching drills/12 rounds on conditioner machine/10 round spar/speed, agility & quickness session/interval gym session with strength and conditioning session. Check out quickness session and interview filmed by the Frankwarren TV website. Jim arranged for me to see Gary Lewin, the England Football Team Physio about my knee. It was a really useful meeting as he explained in detail what the problem was, how to solve it and how to get back into running. He showed us around Wembley Stadium, the changing rooms and the grounds. It was amazing. How great it would be to have a boxing show there - maybe one day!

Gary stressed how important it was that I got orthotics for my running shoes, as this was the biggest cause of my problem. Orthotics are insoles which you put in your trainers to correct the imbalance of your foot. They are designed to control foot functions and take the pressure of other parts of your body. In my case I’m wearing them to take the pressure off my knee. Mum got right on it and booked me an appointment to see Justin Coulter, Musculoskeletal Podiatrist. At the appointment he assessed my running technique on the running machine, my posture and stance. He then took some plaster casts of my feet so the orthotics could be customised to me. I got the orthotics back within a week and have been in my trainers ever since. I am praying this will be the end of the problem.

I also went to Elstree Studios to take part in A League of Their Own. Since my last fight I have put on a few pounds and I was a bit conscious that I would look fat on TV as it is meant to put 10lbs on you. Jim had me doing tons up and exercises in the dressing room to make my abs look bigger and more defined. Vanity! It was a really good day and the task I took part in is really funny. Obviously I don’t want to give too much away. Just make sure you keep watching A League Of Their Own, Sky 1, 9.30pm, every Friday.

At the weekend rival Georgie Groves had his 12th bout. The only similarity between his opponent  and me was that he was a southpaw and he was wearing a pair of boxing gloves and shorts. Last week on Monday I got a phone call from my promoter Frank Warren asking if I wanted to box on the Ricky Burns card in Glasgow at the weekend. I jumped at the chance as I had been hounding Frank to get me out to keep the ring rust off. So training this week was taper time in preparation for my fight. Monday and Tuesday 6 rounds workouts . On Wednesday it was sparring/shake out easy groundwork stretch/massage. Thursday & Friday it was stretching, relaxing, light skipping. Also this week it was the Inter-Services Boxing Championships at Aldershot. The boys had invited me and the team along for an evening of boxing which was the first stage of the ABA's.

The show was broadcast on Ricky Hatton TV and British Forces TV, so all the guys overseas could watch. It was nice to see Ricky Hatton there as well. Best boxer went to Martin Stead and best loser went to Ashley Williams. It was a fantastic night of boxing and all the boys did really well. The Army won again, 27 years on the trot. The guys are a credit to Tony Davis, Head Boxing coach and the Army. The show finished after 11.00pm and we had to be up at the crack of dawn to catch our flight to Glasgow. By the time we got home we were only going to get about 4 hours sleep. Next thing I remember is Mum shouting "it's 6 o'clock we are meant to be at the airport now". She was like a crazy woman running around the house trying to finish packing and getting everything sorted.

I laid in bed thinking we are not going to do this, but thought it was best to get up and try to calm her down before she had a coronary! Dad was walking about half asleep saying "we are not going to make it" but this only made Mum worse. Jim and his son James had stayed over, but just kept their heads down. After a 30 minute tear up the motorway we arrived 5 minutes late for our flight, but the gate was closed. The problem was the next flight from Luton was at 2.15pm and we had to be at the weigh-in for 3. But it was mum to the rescue because within 30 mins she had us booked on another flight from Stansted. We arrived in time for the weigh-in. My opponent was Alpay Kobal from France who had had 21 fights. Because it was only an 8 round bout, I didn't have to fight at championship weight (12st). I weighed in at 12.6 and he weighed in at 12.7. As soon as that was over, it was off to Nandos for a traditional post weigh-in meal. I had a fat munch and then went back to the hotel to chill and choose a tune for my entrance.

Later that evening we went down to restaurant to get a snack. I bumped into one of my all time favourites and idols when I was younger Prince Naseem Hamed. I can remember watching all of his fights and re-enacting his entrances at the gym. Naz is now one of my great fans and follows my career with great interest. He gives me good advice and encouragement to be the best and achieve my dream of becoming World Champion. Weird when your idol is idolising you! We woke up Saturday to snow. Can you believe it snows in the middle of March! My sister rang the night before to tell us that snow had been forecast and flights could be delayed. When she left London it was a beautiful sunny day, 15 degrees and arrived in Glasgow to snow and ice. I chilled for the day, which flew by and before I knew it, it was time to get to work. My opponent was a tough guy but wasn't putting up much of an attack, so the referee stopped it minutes into the 5th round. It still gave me the chance to practise with very small gloves in a real fight scenario, with different drills and work than I do in the gym daily . This was only my 10th bout, I am still an apprentice and need to get the rounds and experience in if I want to reach the TOP!