DeGale set for acid test

James DeGale is set for the toughest test of his embryonic career when he will challenge British super-middleweight champion Paul Smith at Liverpool’s Echo Arena on 11 December. Smith confirmed what has widely been anticipated within the trade on his Twitter page this morning.

Olympic gold medallist DeGale has breezed to eight straight victories since turning pro 18 months ago and swept aside former Commonwealth title challenger Carl Dilks inside a round in September.

British champion Smith, who will enjoy tremendous backing from his home-town crowd, was previously scheduled to defend his Lonsdale belt against Paul David at the same venue on 23 October but the show was subsequently postponed.

The 28-year-old champion, who has lost only once in 30 contests (a controversial points loss to Steve Bendall), hasn’t fought since outpointing cross-city rival Tony Dodson in a bloody encounter back in March.

Further details of the rest of the bumper card are expected to be revealed later today.