James DeGale has vowed to become the first British boxer to win Olympic gold and a pro world title when he fights Andre Dirrell for the vacant IBF super-middleweight title on Saturday.
Londoner DeGale, 29, fights 31-year-old American Dirrell – whose only defeat was by Carl Froch in 2009 – in Boston.
« I’m obsessed with making history, » said DeGale, who became Olympic champion in Beijing in 2008.
« He’s tricky, talented and confident but I’m doing it for my country. »
Six British men have struck Olympic boxing gold since World War Two but none of them have gone on to win a world title in the paid ranks.