James DeGale is sparky, sculpted, super-talented and, according to a growing constituency of female admirers, very sexy. Since he won Olympic gold in Beijing last year the 23-year-old has been described as the “saviour of British boxing”, the “main man with the fast hands” and, by a tabloid newspaper last month, “one of the hottest men in shorts”.

Others demur. Joe Calzaghe has said that DeGale lacks the hunger to make the transition to the professional ranks. David Haye, the former cruiserweight world champion, reckons that he has neither the punch nor the heart. And the woman who works in my local café, a boxing fan with encyclopaedic knowledge to boot, says DeGale is “not all that, either in the boxing or the looks department”.

So many observers, so many opinions. So what's the naked truth?

I meet DeGale and his chirpy, ten-words-a-second trainer, Jim McDonnell, at a photographic studio in West London. Frank Warren, who signed DeGale on a reported £1.5million professional contract, has suggested a nude shot to showcase his latest prized asset, and the middleweight has agreed. “Why not,” he says, golden eyes smiling. “I got a body as toned as Arnie after all the road and gym work Jim has put me through.”

One thing you have to acknowledge is DeGale's forceful and infectious joie de vivre. An Olympic gold medal-winner with cash on the hip, willing women in his path and fame on the near horizon, the possibilities seem endless and he is loving every second. His mischievous face crumples into a grin when I ask him how his life has changed since the Olympics.

“I had a few weeks off after the Games and let my hair down,” he says. “I met some amazing babes in bars and clubs and had a lot of fun, if you know what I mean. But after a few months I had to get down to serious business in the gym and shed the pounds I had put on. That is where Jim comes in. He has had me working harder than ever before; up at six in the morning to run, marathon sparring sessions, you name it.”

DeGale will leave his base camp on Saturday evening to commence his assault on the second Everest of his young career. Having already reached the pinnacle of amateur boxing in Beijing, he will set out on an even more forbidding quest to scale the ultimate height in the professional ranks: a world title, something no Olympic gold medal-winner from Britain has achieved. “History is against me, but it has to be done some time,” he says.

Saturday's test in Birmingham against Vepkhia Tchilaia, a Georgian who has lost six of his past seven bouts, should be nothing more than a formality in terms of the result, but it is all part of an essential education. Amateur boxing is a light-punching, in-and-out affair rather distant from the rugged, attritional, crunching reality of the professional game. DeGale's lightning skills and canny awareness will hold him in good stead, but with Warren, a sassy promoter, in his corner, he will not be pushed too quickly; not, at least, until he has got used to the altitude. “The build-up to a world-title shot has to be patient and I have a lot of learning to do,” he says dutifully.

DeGale's father, Leroy, knows his son as well as anyone and recognises that he will need to stay on the straight and narrow - or as close as is realistic - to fulfil his talent.

“He is a youngster who enjoys life, but we will keep him living at home [in Harlesden, northwest London] to make sure he keeps his feet on the ground,” Leroy says. “There are a lot of distractions, but he has learnt a lot since he got kicked out of school at 14 for making trouble. He'll be fine.”

McDonnell is equally confident that his man has what it takes, but trainers always are. He tells me the story of a test he sets his fighters. “I take any new boy out on a gruelling run, six miles up and down hills at five in the morning,” he says. “After a few days of doing it, I say I am going away for a day and tell them to do the run on their own. But secretly I check up on 'em. Most don't have the discipline, but James was there, doing his stuff.”

DeGale grins as Daniel, the photographer, walks in to get the photo-shoot up and running. “All ready for the off?” Daniel says - a rather witty double entendre. “As ready as I will ever be,” DeGale replies, leaping to his feet.

“Let's hook up for a drink and a chat after the fight,” he turns and says to me as he is bounding into the distance, his trainer in tow.

“I would like that,” I reply, meaning it.

Is DeGale the real deal? The heart says yes, the head, though, remains to be convinced.

Class of 2008 step into brave new world

Six of the Great Britain team of eight in Beijing last summer are preparing for their professional debuts

Tony Jeffries Won a bronze medal at light-heavyweight in Beijing and will be the first of the “great eight” in action, facing Aliaksandr Vayavoda, of Belarus, tomorrow, at the Metrodome, Barnsley, after signing with Frank Maloney. “I won my first national title there as a 13-year-old,” he said.

Frankie Gavin Britain's first gold-medal favourite in nearly 50 years and first world amateur champion in history failed to make the lightweight limit in Beijing, but makes his debut at light-welterweight alongside DeGale in Birmingham on Saturday against George Kadaria, of Georgia.

Billy Joe Saunders The welterweight was the youngest team member in Beijing and many felt he would be the best suited to life as a professional. Faces Attila Molnar, of Hungary, on the Birmingham bill.

David Price The 6ft 9in super-heavyweight bronze medal-winner makes his debut at the Echo Arena, Liverpool, on March 28.

Joe Murray Was unlucky to lose his first bout in Beijing at bantamweight, having won a world bronze medal. After signing with Ricky Hatton, he makes his debut on March 28 as a featherweight in Altrincham.

Words by Ron Lewis