JAMES DEGALE has warned Nathan King he is fast building momentum en route to landing a British title fight.
The Hammersmith-born star meets the granite-jawed Welshman at Newcastle's Metro Arena on Saturday night in his fifth professional fight.
And while Olympic gold medal-list DeGale (pictured) expects Mountain Ash-product King to provide him with his sternest test yet, the Harlesden middleweight believes he can win a fourth successive fight by stoppage in what is shaping up to be a testing sixrounder.
"Without wanting to sound big headed, I was looking really good in my last fight [against Ally Morrison]," said the 23-year-old.
"I've been getting better and better with each one but my fourth was probably my best. I was composed, showed the power I have and shown I have the killer instinct.
"People think I'm just a pretty boy but I can do lots of stuff.
"Hopefully I will be boxing next summer or the end of next year for a British title.
"I'm confident in my ability that I could win one next year."
Should DeGale, whose bout is on the undercard to Amir Khan's WBA light-welterweight title defence against Dimitry Salita, win, he would become only the third person to stop 28-year-old King after former British champion Tony Quigley and world-rated Frenchman Jean Paul Mendy.
