Last night, at the Barclays Centre in Brooklyn, New York, James DeGale?s plans to add the WBC belt to the IBF one he already has in his possession didn?t quite work out.
In a thrilling encounter, that saw both boxers on the canvas, the three judges scored the contest:
? 114 ? 112 (in favour of DeGale)
? 113 ? 113 (draw)
? 113 ? 113 (draw)
meaning that both boxers kept their respective belts.
De Gale started the fight well and had Badou Jack on the floor in the first round from a straight right. But despite the knockdown Jack got back into the fight and his body shots were troubling DeGale.
In the eighth round Jack dislodged DeGale?s gum-shield with an uppercut and the British fighter was to lose a front tooth later in the fight.
As the fight continued, DeGale landed some decent punches in the tenth round but victory was to be denied him when Jack caught him with a short uppercut to stick him on the canvas in the last round.
After the fight James DeGale had this to say about the fight,
‘I thought I’d done enough but it was the knockdown.
‘I’ve had 25 fights, I’m going to get better and I want the rematch.
‘I’m glad I’m still the champion and I’m coming home with the title but I’m so upset that I didn’t come with the WBC belt. The main thing is I didn’t lose, I’m still the champion and I can move forward.’.
However, it appears there?ll be no re-match with Jack?s promoter, Floyd Mayweather, stating his fighter will be moving up a weight, remarking,
‘We don’t need to figure it out, I’m the promoter this is my fighter.
‘Badou Jack has got too big for 168lbs. We have plans after this fight to move up to light-heavyweight.?
So what next for James DeGale?
DeGale Retains IBF Title in Majority Draw
