A defiant James DeGale has hit back at the latest slur from a big name claiming he's got no chance in the professional ring.

Chris Eubank reckons the Olympic champion is going to be a big-time flop in the same week the Dale Youth fighter will discover the identity of his debut opponent at the NIA in Birmingham on February 28.

An unknown from eastern Europe is being lined up as notch number one on DeGale's belt, and as for Eubank, the lad known as Chunky due to his love of chocolate and crisps as a kid reckons the former middleweight champion reckons the monocled-one has bitten off more than he can chew.

DeGale said: "To be fair, Chris reckoned fame kills your hunger - but as yet I haven't got that much fame or money.

"Maybe in a couple of years, but I was determined to be Olympic champion, and now I'm determined to be world champion."

Cruiserweight champion David Haye has also let rip at DeGale's chances, but the boxer who celebrated his 23rd birthday last Tuesday, reckons his training is now 'awesome' compared to the efforts required to lift the 75kilo Olympic crown in Beijing.

He said: "Back then, six two-minute rounds was normal.

"Last week, I did eight three-minute rounds with just 80 seconds break in between each one - and I felt fine afterwards."

There's also not much of Epping Forest that DeGale hasn't seen in recent runs either.

He belted around a nine-mile course last week as well as part of his preparation for the big debut in Birmingham.

He added: "I want to make an impact right from the start.

"And there are some who claim I haven't got a knock-out punch. But my training as a professional has been geared to giving me more time to think during rounds. That's more time to pick out the winning shots."