Nick Parkinson
James DeGale knows his career will be over if he suffers a back-to-back defeat to Caleb Truax on Saturday.
The Briton lost his IBF world super-middleweight title to American Truax in London in December, which was one of 2017's biggest shocks.
Truax (29-3-2, 18 KOs), 34, from Minnesota, was little-known going into the fight but thoroughly deserved his majority points win after a bizarrely flat performance from DeGale.
DeGale (23-2-1, 14 KOs), 32, was held to a draw in his previous fight, a title unification clash with Badou Jack, and lost the belt in a fourth defence.
The Londoner blames defeat on rushing back from shoulder surgery too soon and overlooking Truax, who he meets again at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas.
"It was a terrible performance, it was shocking," said DeGale. "I rushed my shoulder back after reconstructive surgery and if I'm being honest I took him lightly, I wasn't very fit. It was a combination of those things really.
"I'm very lucky that I've got a chance to make it right. My career is on the line 100 percent.
"I've been criticised a lot, people are saying I'm shot. I don't know how they think that because I've had two hard fights in my career -- Badou Jack and the European title fight [against Piotr Wilczewski in 2011].
"In my last two fights, my performances have been deteriorating so there's a lot on the line but I know what I have left and I know what I'm going to do. I have a point to prove.
"He really believes that my shoulder is an excuse but we will see. I'm so confident of winning this fight and if I don't I will retire.
"If I can't beat Truax and look good then I've given up my title and knock it on the head. Truax is a tough, strong competitor but if I can't beat him that means I have gone backwards."
DeGale must win to keep alive the prospect of facing the winner of the all-British clash between George Groves and Callum Smith, who meet in the final of the World Boxing Super Series final, now expected to be on July 7 or 14.
But DeGale, who lost a majority decision to WBA champion Groves beat DeGale seven years ago, insists he is not overlooking Truax this time with so much at stake on Saturday
"Looking forward there are some massive fights for me in London against Smith or Groves, but I'm just concentrating on Truax," DeGale said. "There's a hell of a lot that's on the line. I can't believe we are at this point with me talking about retiring if I lose to Truax.
"The thought of walking away from boxing breaks my heart. If I haven't got it anymore I will quit. But I know what I have left -- I'm 32 and this should be my prime. The last two fights ain't been a fully focused and fit me.
"But talking is cheap and I have to get in there and do the business and get back the title and I have to look good. This has to be a statement fight."
Defeat to Truax was DeGale's first since 2011 and also his first on home soil since 2014 after campaigning in North America for four successive fights.
And for the first time DeGale will have former world champion Paulie Malignaggi in his corner along with trainer Jim McDonnell.
Malignaggi, from New York, retired last year after winning world titles in two weight divisions.
"Malignaggi brings a lot, he brings experience, he has been there and done it," DeGale said. "The way he breaks down fights, his strategies and game plans are fantastic. He has brought something different to the camp, he has freshened it up."
http://www.espn.com/boxing/story/_/id/23010830/james-degale-my-career-line-suffer-defeat-caleb-truax
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