Training the DeGale way
In part two of a close-up with Olympic gold medallist and novice pro James DeGale and his trainer Jim McDonnell, Paul Foley goes into the training school of DeGale and is impressed by what he sees...
I’ve heard it said that Jim McDonnell is ruthless in his training methods. I can remember being at boxing trainer Frank Black’s funeral in 2008 and overhearing Frank Bruno say to Jim that while he has been doing a bit in the gym he is not quite attaining the crazy level of McDonnell.
Recently on a March afternoon I spent the day with Jim as he put DeGale through his methods that he says are tried and tested.
Having seen comments and heard suggestions that James hasn’t got the heart or he’s just a flash party boy I entered into the real world of James DeGale and if I too was starting to believe the hype, the paradigm soon shifted in front of my very eyes.
After meeting James at the gym entrance door at 2.30 pm the Olympic gold medallist didn’t hang around but quickly moved into warming up by shadow boxing and swift movements and that was without Jim being on location. It seems the discipline factor has soon rubbed off from teacher to pupil!
A short conversation between Jim and James in the adjacent room and they decide it’s a running uphill day. But let me warn you this was no ordinary hill and no ordinary running.
The three of us jumped into James’ black Range Rover and Jim navigated us to the scene of intensity.
We pulled up and parked up and there before our eyes was the Road that could just help James to be on the professional glory Lane.
It’s quite fitting then, that it bore the name Hillcrest Road with an extremely steep hill of about 150 metres from bottom to top.
The idea is for James to run up and meet Jim where the stopwatch would be clicked to register his time. And James had to do this eight times.
But just before he got under way Jim decided to entice me to run up with him and it’s a hill that is designed to quickly raise one’s heart rate.
At 3pm it was over to Chunky who displayed his tremendous speed, strength, power and technical skills, well, this is how Jim described it to me as we attentively watched from the top.
On each venture to the top DeGale sped in with impressive times, the quickest at 18 seconds and the slowest coming in at 21 seconds. Not bad going considering the only rest he took was the light jog back down.
What’s more frightening (for any potential opponents) is this is not quite DeGale at his fittest as he had just returned from a break after his February 13th outing. (James doesn’t over indulge when out of the ring as he is currently weighing 12st 10lbs which is only 10lbs over his last fight weight.)
If that seems hard, on several occasions he had to dodge on-coming cars while Jim played traffic controller by halting any more cars downward bound as James headed for the top.
It was a quiet setting in a back street of Loughton, most of the noise was that of the encouraging words of McDonnell. “Push Chunk, quality, great work, tremendous strength, quality mate, you smash it James.”
As James completed his eight sprints Jim allows James to have a few minutes by himself and explains this.
“There’s no point in talking when they are tired because they’re not going to remember.”
DeGale’s recovery ability is quite remarkable and as we swiftly boarded his automobile again James described the hill experience to me.
“The hardest bit is at the top.”
As he sat positioned in the driver's seat James added, “My legs feel like they are on fire.”
It was now 3.30pm and while his legs were still burning we returned to the Academy where he jumped in the ring. DeGale shows he loves what he does and displays a relaxed attitude but void of any cockiness.
Dressed in a black vest and black boots bearing his name he moves artistically across the ring shadowed by McDonnell.
If the going gets tough there is an encouraging message carefully and purposefully splashed across the wall which reads “Pain is temporary, pride is forever.”
No problem according to Jim who says James prized quality is one of great mental strength. As he pounds away on the pads he has an intense focus and frequently opens his mouth as he leans into his punches.
The ever inspiring Jim lavishes James with words of affirmation. “Quality, good and class.”
Of the ring work today there was a punch that caught my eye. It’s one that will no doubt catch many chins and close opponents’ eyes. James moves forward and steps into a left handed jab/hook rolled into one.
What impressed me most about James today was his attitude. Not a hint of complaining as Jim moved him quickly through his routine without any rest in a programme that also included press ups and chin ups then finishing with abdominal work.
I think we sometimes mistake confidence for arrogance. I met James before he had an Olympic gold medal and 18 months on I can’t detect a great change in his personality. He is a young hearted, fun loving and warm character who is enjoying displaying his talents and the fruits of his labour.
Every great champion has to believe that he can do it. Why should we knock that? Given the choice do you prefer the company of positive or negative people?
I rest my case.
As the session wound up James sat on the floor and Jim asked “You feel good?” to which James acknowledged “Yes.”
Jim was keen for James to stretch his legs because of that hill.
Some two hours later at 4.35pm, Jim and James were done, at least for today.
James has been greatly influenced by his visit to the States last year where he was able to watch Floyd Mayweather train for just under three hours at a time.
Floyd told “Team Chunky” that most people (boxers) are lazy. Who can argue with an undefeated pound for pounder?
One thing is for sure De Gale is not lazy. He aims to be the number one.
And with Jim by his side and hills that kill, there is no evidence to show that James is not ready for the top.
So much for the pretty boy!
