In the midst of a cold winter’s evening in Brooklyn,
Badou Jack and James DeGale put on an enthralling contest for the WBC, IBF and
coveted Ring Magazine belt. The fight ended in a majority
draw.
Preceding the unification bout, ‘The Money
Team’ were buoyed by Gervonta Davis’s impressive knockout victory over the previously
unbeaten Jose Pedraza to claim the IBF super featherweight world title. One
could sense Floyd Mayweather’s joy at ringside at his charge’s success, with an
unlikely TMT double now firmly on his mind.
As the headline acts made their way to the
squared circle, the general consensus was for a DeGale victory so long as he remained
switched on for the duration of the contest (having shown lapses of concentration
in previous bouts.) Many also questioned whether Jack had enough variety in his
arsenal to breakdown ‘Chunky’s’ slick switch hit style.
Jack is also known as a slow starter.
Having been dismantled by Derek Edwards inside one round three years ago, he got
off to the worst possible start against DeGale who threw a short left to floor
the WBC champion in the opener. Whilst it was only a flash knockdown, DeGale now
knew he could hurt his opponent.
However, the early success may have encouraged
the Harlesden man to stay in the pocket too long and thus neglect his own box
and move style. For example, his
lack of elusiveness allowed Jack to score with a solid right hand with a minute
to go in round two. The ‘Ripper,’ aptly wearing camouflage garments for the war
ahead then caught DeGale with uppercuts and a straight right hand to the body in
the third, and a left hook in the fourth. DeGale was therefore fighting Jack’s
type of fight and smothering his own work, which would prove detrimental in the
final outcome.
Going into the middle rounds, Jack then
started to look the stronger and hurt DeGale with a sickening body shot in
round six and dominated most of round seven. DeGale was then on the receiving
end of a torrid eighth, as Jack drew blood from the nose and went looking for
the knockout.
DeGale’s post-fight admission of fatigue
from round five is interesting. Having undertaken a strength and conditioning
programme for the first time in the build-up, the cause may arguably be down to
his body’s extra demand for oxygen from the skeletal muscle built. When
combined with Jack’s come forward style, the physical exertion might have been
something that his body was not accustomed to.
What cannot be questioned is DeGale’s heart
as he metaphorically bit down on his gum shield from round nine on, (having had
his mouth protector dislodged several times in the fight) to reassert himself
in the contest. The IBF champion unloaded
combinations up close in the tenth and eleventh to win both rounds, and
probably edged ahead on the cards going in to the last.
A short right uppercut from Jack in the
final session though, (the shot which he was looking for all night) sent DeGale
to the floor to swing the pendulum his way once again. DeGale showed tremendous
courage to survive the round and hear the bell as we went to the scorecards.
Whilst a chorus of boos rang out from the
partisan crowd upon hearing the decision (114-112 DeGale, 113-113 and 113-113),
no one could really argue with the outcome. A rematch is the most desired
option next, but Jack’s assertion that he will be moving up to light
heavyweight makes it unlikely.
Neel Khagram - @BehindTheFight
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