Olympic gold medalist James DeGale today revealed how his professional boxing career was nearly dealt an early knockout because he couldn't take the training, writes David Smith.

When DeGale quit his amateur status following the Beijing Games, the 22-year-old Londoner decided former European featherweight champion Jim McDonnell was the man to teach him how to fight as a professional.

But McDonnell, who got Brixton's Danny Williams in shape to score a shock stoppage of Mike Tyson in 2004, is renowned for being a hard task master.

DeGale (right) admitted: "After the first two weeks of training I was left wondering if this guy was serious. I really began to doubt that I could hack it. But I stuck at it, got fitter, and I'm loving it now. Honestly, I love that feeling of my heart pounding and I'm sweating so much that my tee-shirt is soaked."

DeGale makes his pro debut against 21-year-old Georgia journeyman Vepkhia Tchilaia at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham on Saturday week.

"I can't wait for that fight," said De Gale. "I'm so excited. It's going to be wicked."