James DeGale: Former IBF super-middleweight champion on ADHD and his bare-knuckle debut

For many fighters, the hardest battle is not in the ring but knowing when to walk away.

History is littered with boxers who could not resist one more shot, one more fight, one last chance to silence the doubts.

Olympic gold medallist and former two-time IBF super-middleweight champion James DeGale is no different.

On Saturday in Manchester, the 39-year-old will step into one of the most brutal arenas in combat sports: bare-knuckle boxing.

He meets Australian Matt Floyd at the AO Arena, six years on from the punishing loss to Chris Eubank Jr that ended his career – a memory that still gnaws at him.

“The way I went out against Eubank, it plays in my head every day,” he says. “I want to go out with a good win and show people how injured I was.”

DeGale knows his decision will raise eyebrows but believes attention and redemption could pave the way back to traditional boxing.

“The last couple of years of my career I was riddled with injuries,” he tells BBC Sport.

“I need to right the wrong and have a couple more fights just to show how handicapped I was.”

Although world titles are behind him, DeGale feels the modern boxing landscape – shaped by crossover shows and influencer bouts – offers new opportunities.

“Boxing at the very top and winning world titles again, that’s done,” he says.

“But boxing has changed. There’s [YouTuber KSI’s promotional company] Misfits, shows in Qatar, money everywhere.

“Jake Paul, Darren Till, Ty Mitchell, KSI, Tommy Fury – there are so many people I can fight.”