James DeGale is dreaming about the potential riches and love that will come his way if he beats Andre Dirrell for the world title later this month.
Britain's 2008 Olympic gold medallist faces Dirrell for the vacant IBF super-middleweight belt at Boston's Agganis Arena on May 23. The 29-year-old has made £3 million in his career so far and, while he is motivated to become Britain's first gold medallist to win a world title, DeGale admits money is also a driving force behind his quest to claim the belt Carl Froch vacated earlier this year.
DeGale, who will get £1m for fighting Dirrell, even considered quitting boxing and becoming a personal trainer after growing disenchanted with the sport in 2013 following a series of injuries. After signing with promoter Eddie Hearn, his injuries healed and his form improved with three stoppages in as many fights.
"I was thinking with my name, I could probably make about three or four grand a week as a personal trainer," DeGale told reporters during a media workout at his north London gym. "I was seeing fighters who I was better than getting title fights, it was hard to take and I thought about it.
"Now I'm on this paper chase. I'm going to earn my first million [against Dirrell]. But, I'm not joking, a million pounds doesn't go far. By the time they tax me, they take 30 percent off me before I leave the country.
"Then I've got to come back [to England] and pay people, put a big deposit down on a house, treat myself. Then I've only got a couple of hundred grand. A million pounds is nothing. I've spent it already. Eddie said he will treat me to a nice Rolex, £20k I think, if I win."
Hearn says the former European champion has matured since suffering the only defeat of his professional career, a points loss to fellow Londoner George Groves four years ago.
"This is a different guy from the Groves fight," Hearn said. "Not just a different fighter but a different person. He was just a kid then. All he wanted to be was flash. He loved his boxing but he was going out all the time being jack the lad, pool parties - I used to see him at parties and say what are you doing here?
"You grow up and then realise what you want in your life and that is what has happened to James DeGale. He has pure focus on his boxing. People are now seeing the real James DeGale. People are not seeing the kid who had a spat with George Groves. His popularity in the last 12 months has gone through the roof.
"Now people are seeing him, seeing his desire, he is 100 percent focused. He will smash Andre Dirrell from pillar to post and stop him in 10 rounds."
DeGale was booed on his professional debut in Birmingham in 2009 but hopes he will become one of British boxing's best loved stars by winning the world title.
"Remember my first pro fight when I was booed? It was a bit embarrassing and stupid and they won't boo me now," DeGale said.
"It has been a battle to be loved but I think you're doing something right if you get some haters. I'd like to think once I win this title I will be loved."