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Degale is declared the winner
"I was dreaming of this four weeks ago in Macau and now it's all coming true."
James Degale
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James Degale booked his place in the Olympic middleweight final with a comprehensive 10-3 victory over Ireland's Darren Sutherland.
22-year-old Degale went into his semi-final with Sutherland trailing 4-1 in the head-to-head record, but the British fighter bossed the fight from start to finish.
Degale landed the first shot in the opening round but Sutherland caught the Brit with a good right hand and it was 1-1 after the opening two minutes.
The story was set for the rest of the fight with 'Chunky' Degale looking to keep on the move and jab while Sutherland was trying to close down the distance and work closer on the inside.
Degale kept his concentration and moved 3-1 ahead after second round with some decent movement, and the third round proved to be the difference as Degale really moved ahead.
Footwork
The Hammersmith fighter kept on the move and his footwork and quick hands caught Sutherland at will and the British man was ahead 8-2 at the bell.
Sutherland only had one chance in the final round and that was to stop Degale, and the Irishman did land with a solid shot with a minute to go.
Degale took it well though and then safely negotiated the final minute to book his place in the middleweight final, where he faces Cuban Emilio Correa Bayeaux.
Correa had a close fight with India's Vijender Kumar, but emerged with a tight 8-5 victory and now faces Degale for the gold.
"On my day I can beat anybody in the world. In the past maybe I haven't got the tactics or weight right or silly things like that," said Degale. "And now everything is excellent.
"All the messages from home gave me the strength to do this. I'm so proud to be British and win a medal.
"I was dreaming of this four weeks ago in Macau and now it's all coming true."
Coach
Degale dedicated his win to boxing coach Terry Edwards, after the criticism he received following the suspension of welterweight prospect Billy Joe Saunders.
"Terry doesn't get the respect he deserves," Degale added.
"We've all got respect for him and he's like a second dad to me.
"He's fantastic and all the rubbish he gets is not fair."
