Olympic boxer DeGale turns pro

LONDON (AP) -- Olympic middleweight boxing champion James DeGale turned pro Tuesday, teaming up with promoter Frank Warren.

The 22-year-old DeGale beat Cuba's Emilio Correa in the Olympic final in Beijing in August.

Also turning pro and joining Warren were Billy Joe Saunders and Frankie Gavin.

The 19-year-old Saunders was beaten in the second round in Beijing at welterweight. Gavin, a 23-year-old world amateur champion, did not get to fight at the Olympics because he didn't make the lightweight limit.

The three former amateurs will make their pro debuts in 2009.

"I'm delighted to have signed James, Frankie and Billy Joe, and I'm very excited about working with them in the future," Warren said. "I think they will all become world champions, and 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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