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London: Olympic gold medallist James DeGale has set his sights on becoming world middleweight champion within four years after signing a professional contract with promoter Frank Warren, on Tuesday.
The 22-year-old Londoner was one of three fighters signed by Warren who fought off intense American interest to capture Degale, 19-year-old welterweight Billy Joe Saunders and former world amateur lightweight champion Frankie Gavin.
DeGale, who beat Cuba's Emilio Correa in Beijing to win gold, will begin his professional career in February after deciding not to hang around for the London 2012 Olympics.
"Don't think I'm big-headed, but I'm talented, this is what I do," DeGale told Reuters. "I've completed half of my boxing dream by winning an Olympic gold, now I want to do the other half by becoming a world champion. I believe it could happen quickly too. If it was three years that would be great but four is realistic. I'm made for professional boxing. I'm going to be good, very good. I'm an entertainer, I'm not going to stand there with my hands up.
"I remember as a kid watching Nigel Benn fight Chris Eubank and I've wanted to be there ever since, under the lights, on that big stage. I believe I can emulate the likes of Joe Calzaghe, Ricky Hatton and Naseem Hamed."
DeGale appears to be a promoter's dream. His style is easy on the eye, he is blessed with model looks and he can handle himself with the media as well as he does inside the ropes.
"I don't want to come across as arrogant but you need a lot of confidence to make it as a professional boxer, otherwise you're in trouble," he said.
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