Coming off of shoulder surgery following a January draw with Badou Jack, IBF super middleweight titleholder James DeGale is hoping to return to the ring in December, and has eyes on both Jack and the World Boxing Super Series.

DeGale (23-1-1, 14 KO) says that he expects the WBSS super middleweight tournament to be won by either Callum Smith, who has already advanced to the semifinal, or WBA titleholder George Groves, an old rival who faces Jamie Cox on October 14 in the quarterfinal.

“It was serious surgery. I’m just pleased that I can see the light at the end of the tunnel because [my shoulder] is getting better, it’s feeling looser, I can do a lot more stuff with it. … I got a call [for the WBSS] but I needed my operation. I couldn’t go in that competition like that, fighting handicapped. It’s a good tournament, there’s a lot of good fighters in it, and I am a bit disappointed, but hopefully I’ll get the winner.”

The 31-year-old DeGale also suggests a move up to light heavyweight to rematch Jack (22-1-2, 13 KO), who won the WBA title on August 26 from Nathan Cleverly. DeGale says that Jack “ain’t in (his) class,” feeling that he was fighting well under 100 percent when they met earlier this year.