 DeGale thought long and hard about turning professional
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Olympic boxing champion James DeGale has turned professional and signed up with promoter Frank Warren.
The 22-year-old Londoner won Great Britain's 19th gold in Beijing with a 16-14 win over Cuba's Emilio Correa in a bad-tempered middleweight final.
Warren has also signed Billy Joe Saunders and Frankie Gavin, whose dream of Beijing gold was shattered when he failed to make his required weight.
The three former amateurs will make their professional debuts in 2009.
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Deep, deep in my soul I wanted to turn pro, but there was something in me saying stay for 2012
James DeGale
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He was a big hope for gold in Beijing but was controversially forced to withdraw at the last minute after failing to make the weight.
Saunders, the first Romany to represent Great Britain at any Olympics. was also tipped for a medal but the 19-year-old from Hatfield fell in the second round of the welterweight competition.
By turning professional, the trio become ineligible to compete at the London Olympics in 2012.
DeGale told BBC Radio 5 Live that it had been a tough decision to make but admitted money was the motivating factor.
"Deep, deep in my soul I wanted to turn pro, but there was something in me saying stay for 2012," he said.
"But in the end I've got to think about myself and my family. I can secure the rest of my life, money-wise."
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606: DEBATE
BBC Sport's Phil Gordos
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Before turning his back on the amateur game, DeGale had said he was chasing a pro deal that would guarantee him £2m over two years.
"I didn't get that but I got something not far off it," he added.
DeGale, who will fight at either middleweight or super-middleweight, says he could make his debut at London's O2 Arena in early February.
He also pledged to learn from the experiences of former Olympic champion Audley Harrison and 2004 silver medallist Amir Khan who have had mixed results as professionals.
"I'm going to keep my feet on the ground, I'm not going to get too big for my boots, I've got proper people round me," he said.
"I'm just excited and looking forward to it. Ever since I was 10 watching the Prince Naseem videos and watching him fight all I've wanted to do was fight as a pro."
As for Gavin, he has vowed to become a professional world champion within four years.
"The plan is to win a world title by 2012, definitely," he said.
Warren thinks all three fighters will reach the very top.
"I'm delighted to have signed James, Frankie and Billy Joe. I'm very excited about working with them in the future," he said.
"I think they will all become world champions. After their success as amateurs, the public is really going to get behind them and will want to watch their progress through the ranks."
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