--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I could have ended up in a gang or in…" description: "\"I could have ended up in a gang or in prison because Harlesden is real rough and I was always a naughty boy. That's how I got into boxing.\" — James DeGale" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca1/james-degale-5274_always_i-could-have-ended-up-in-a-gang-or-in-pr_2337556.jpg" --- # I could have ended up in a gang or in prison because… ![“I could have ended up in a gang or in prison because Harlesden is real rough and I was always a naughty boy. That's how I got into boxing.” quote by James DeGale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca1/james-degale-5274_always_i-could-have-ended-up-in-a-gang-or-in-pr_2337556.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca1/james-degale-5274_always_i-could-have-ended-up-in-a-gang-or-in-pr_2337556.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca1/james-degale-5274_always_i-could-have-ended-up-in-a-gang-or-in-pr_2337556.jpg) > “I could have ended up in a gang or in prison because Harlesden is real rough and I was always a naughty boy. That's how I got into boxing.” [James DeGale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-degale/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He credits a rough upbringing and early misdirection for steering him toward boxing as a constructive outlet. **In simple terms:** Rough past led to boxing. Key Takeaway Turn adversity into purpose. Themes redemption sports social mobility Mood reflective inspirational Type motivational social When to use this quote - youth programs - community centers - sports mentorship Key Concepts sociology personal growth choice Questions to Reflect On - What alternatives could have helped? - How can sport aid at‑risk youth? A Different Perspective Boxing may not suit everyone; systemic issues persist. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) [Boxing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boxing/) [Gang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gang/) [Gang Prison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gang-prison-5645802/) [Got Boxing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/got-boxing-334579/) [Naughty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/naughty/) [Prison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prison/) [Prison Harlesden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prison-harlesden-5645800/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Rough Naughty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rough-naughty-5645801/) [Wrestling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrestling/) ## Related quotes > [We all think we've got one more boxing match in us, and that, probably, will be the downfall of Floyd Mayweather, George Foreman, Manny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-foreman/we-all-think-we-ve-got-one-more-boxing-match-in-us-and-that-probably/) [George Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-foreman/) > [When I was a little kid I wanted to be an artist or a painter. But once I got into boxing, all I wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-steward/when-i-was-a-little-kid-i-wanted-to-be-an-artist-or-a-painter-but/) [Emanuel Steward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-steward/) > [I first got into boxing when I was quite young. I was about 12 when I won my first boxing match.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-parker/i-first-got-into-boxing-when-i-was-quite-young-i-was-about-12-when-i/) [Joseph Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-parker/) > [I got the who's who in the boxing world; I've been training with the Lomachenkos, the Terrence Crawfords.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-j-dillashaw/i-got-the-who-s-who-in-the-boxing-world-i-ve-been-training-with-the/) [T.J. Dillashaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-j-dillashaw/) > [I got into boxing because I wanted to fight Tyson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-briggs/i-got-into-boxing-because-i-wanted-to-fight-tyson/) [Shannon Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-briggs/) > [I got into boxing for two reasons. One was that my father was a boxer. Secondly when I was young, all healthy men in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-london/i-got-into-boxing-for-two-reasons-one-was-that-my-father-was-a-boxer/) [Brian London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-london/) > [I was someone who no one would want to be. But when I got to go to the boxing gym, even at a young…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caleb-plant/i-was-someone-who-no-one-would-want-to-be-but-when-i-got-to-go-to-the/) [Caleb Plant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caleb-plant/) > [“Make me feel naughty, Adam. Can do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-cunning/make-me-feel-naughty-adam-can-do/) [Olivia Cunning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-cunning/) > [My marks were always bad, and I was a bad influence on other children, so they would explain to my mother that they could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-charan/my-marks-were-always-bad-and-i-was-a-bad-influence-on-other-children/) [Ram Charan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-charan/) > [Let's be naughty and save Santa the trip.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-allan/let-s-be-naughty-and-save-santa-the-trip/) [Gary Allan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-allan/) > [I was quite naughty at school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gemma-arterton/i-was-quite-naughty-at-school/) [Gemma Arterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gemma-arterton/) > [I'm supportive of women, absolutely, and it's so gratifying to have girls come up and say, 'I'm really inspired by your guitar playing.' I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-vincent/i-m-supportive-of-women-absolutely-and-it-s-so-gratifying-to-have/) [St. Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-vincent/) > [I remember being a kid and seeing the 'National Inquirer' at the grocery store checkout line. When somebody actually picked up a copy, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashida-jones/i-remember-being-a-kid-and-seeing-the-national-inquirer-at-the/) [Rashida Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashida-jones/) > [The undisciplined child enters into discipline by working in the company of others; not being told he is naughty.” “Discipline is, therefore, primarily a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/the-undisciplined-child-enters-into-discipline-by-working-in-the/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by James DeGale > [I actually like boxing away from home. It takes the pressure off you a little bit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-degale/i-actually-like-boxing-away-from-home-it-takes-the-pressure-off-you-a/) [James DeGale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-degale/) > [A lot of people have been saying I am obsessed with the "making history" thing. But it's what pushes me, it's what drives me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-degale/a-lot-of-people-have-been-saying-i-am-obsessed-with-the-making/) [James DeGale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-degale/) > [People are saying I hold and spoil, but you don't get to win Olympic gold without a bit of power and ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-degale/people-are-saying-i-hold-and-spoil-but-you-don-t-get-to-win-olympic/) [James DeGale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-degale/) > [When I've made enough money so that my family never have to work again, I will retire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-degale/when-i-ve-made-enough-money-so-that-my-family-never-have-to-work/) [James DeGale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-degale/) > [If I won another gold medal in 2012, in my home city, imagine that. To be the face of 2012, that'd be unbelievable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-degale/if-i-won-another-gold-medal-in-2012-in-my-home-city-imagine-that-to/) [James DeGale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-degale/) > [I'm lucky that I have got good parents behind me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-degale/i-m-lucky-that-i-have-got-good-parents-behind-me/) [James DeGale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-degale/) > [I'm scared of failing. I'm scared to lose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-degale/i-m-scared-of-failing-i-m-scared-to-lose/) [James DeGale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-degale/) > [Of course, it means something to beat George Groves to winning a world title.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-degale/of-course-it-means-something-to-beat-george-groves-to-winning-a-world/) [James DeGale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-degale/) > [Money comes and goes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-degale/money-comes-and-goes/) [James DeGale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-degale/) > [Dirrell is a very good opponent. He's very talented. He's hard to beat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-degale/dirrell-is-a-very-good-opponent-he-s-very-talented-he-s-hard-to-beat/) [James DeGale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-degale/) > [Prior to a fight when I have to make weight, obviously I can't eat all the rubbish - chocolate and stuff like that. Straight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-degale/prior-to-a-fight-when-i-have-to-make-weight-obviously-i-can-t-eat-all/) [James DeGale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-degale/) > [Dirrell was very skilful. He'd only lost once before me - to Carl Froch in Nottingham - and he gave Froch so many problems.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-degale/dirrell-was-very-skilful-he-d-only-lost-once-before-me-to-carl-froch/) [James DeGale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-degale/) > [I used to love tap, that was favourite, and a bit of street dancing. Ballet I tried to avoid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-degale/i-used-to-love-tap-that-was-favourite-and-a-bit-of-street-dancing/) [James DeGale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-degale/) > [When I won my world title people used to say I worked hard and that I was fit; now they say I'm a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-degale/when-i-won-my-world-title-people-used-to-say-i-worked-hard-and-that-i/) [James DeGale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-degale/) > [99.9% of fighters would do anything to have the career I've had, yet people keep telling me to make changes. What for?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-degale/99-9-of-fighters-would-do-anything-to-have-the-career-i-ve-had-yet/) [James DeGale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-degale/) [Explore all 102 James DeGale quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-degale/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) [Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I could have ended up in a gang or in prison because Harlesden is real rough and I was always a naughty boy. 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