James DeGale should be coming to the end of his afternoon five-mile jog knowing he has proved doubters wrong.

The prospective super-middleweight world champion will then enjoy the luxury of resting the next seven days before attempting to make good a promise he gets next shot at Carl Froch.

The Harlesden hero had the best fight of his career when he banged unbeaten Brandon Gonzales to the canvas in the fourth round of their super-middleweight bout on the undercard of the Froch v George Groves epic on Saturday.

The former Dale Youth Olympic champion then sat ringside at Wembley and saw his west London foe likewise take an almighty thump that leaves Groves from Hammersmith going in a different route to resurrect his career.

That Froch’s IBF belt is now up for grabs came as a result of a game plan from trainer Jim McDonnell, who urged his man to launch a lightning strike from the first bell.

It paid off handsomely when Gonzales got a close-up of the floor after just 10 seconds.

Floored: Down goes Brandon Gonzales

When the Californian headed south a second time three rounds later, it was terminal.

McDonnell said: “James has gone and done the business on a massive scale at Wembley.

“Gonzales wasn’t ready for a 12-rounder even though he was a brilliant fighter, because you can’t know what it’s like until you’ve done it.

“So I said, ‘listen, James, this kid ain’t ready for a fast start. He wants to spar for five or six rounds so he thinks he can get on top later, and we nearly got it done in the first round.”

Media have been apologising to McDonnell most of the weekend after they compared DeGale to former European champion Audley Harrison, also from Harlesden.

The trainer explained: “Reporters have already told me, you were right and we were wrong.

“They had said, James has got three faults; he’s a southpaw; he’s from Harlesden, and he’s an Olympic gold medallist - like Harrison. James is a good boxer but like Audley, he ain’t going to make it to a world title.

“What a difference on Saturday, eh? Now James is more than ready for his chance.”