It was one of the most memorable clashes of 2017, Badou Jack and James DeGale engaged into battle at the beginning of the year in January in New York as both combatants sought to unify the WBC, IBF and Lineal world super-middleweight championships. It was a back and forth rumble which captivated many. Badou Jack was sent to the canvas in the fight’s opening stanza but he recovered and proceeded to seize control of the bout as they came down the stretch and even repaid the favour by felling DeGale in the fight’s final round.
Two of the judges that night scored the fight dead even whilst the other had Jack edging the verdict 114-112 resulting in the majority draw verdict. Following that match, DeGale suffered multiple injuries during the fight and has had to focus on his rehabilitation following that fight, which has seen him not enter the squared circle since then and furthermore is yet to agree his next fight.
Speaking exclusively to On The Ropes Boxing Radio, DeGale shared his thoughts about a return bout and stated his belief that he believes the rematch will be a completely different story if he is able to get into full fighting shape. “Badou Jack, that’s the fight that I really want because I don’t think Badou Jack is in my class at all. I know he’s a good world-class fighter, but I just think styles make fights, and I don’t think on my game when I’m fully fit, I don’t think he beats me. It’s frustrating that I made him look so good, I made him look like a world beater. It was a bit of a controversial end to the fight but a lot of people thought I won and a lot thought he won. So, I see no reason why we shouldn’t get in the ring again”.
If that fight happens, I’d probably have to go up in weight because I think he struggles to make 168lbs and I don’t think he’s coming back down, so I’d have to come up. There’s a lot of fights out there for me, obviously, Great Britain has a lot of domestic fight, big fights, huge fights. There’s George Groves, Eubank Jr, Callum Smith,” DeGale said when evaluating all the options ahead of him.