James DeGale shocking loss against Caleb Truax made big headlines all across the boxing world on Saturday night. The former IBF World super middleweight champion was the heavy favourite going into the fight but shockingly could not answer back to the American’s pressure.
Devastated with my performance last night. Feel like Ive let everyone down – myself, my family, friends and fans. I dont want 2 be in any other position than No1 so going to take some time out 2 reflect and make some decisions goin forward.Thank u all for your love & support 😔💙
— James DeGale (@jamesdegale1) December 10, 2017
The Olympian has received a lot of stick for his performance against Truax, including from Chris Eubank Jr and George Groves.
After all the trash talk & disrespectful comments @jamesdegale1 you go & put on a display like that!! All I can say is WOW!!! You have properly let down British Boxing #Shameful
— Chris Eubank Jr (@ChrisEubankJr) December 9, 2017
Call it a day mate, you ain't got it no more.
— George Groves (@StGeorgeGroves) December 9, 2017
At the final press conference for Taylor-McCaskill, promoter Eddie Hearn spoke to Boxing Social about his former fighter’s performance in dramatic fashion.
The biggest issue for Hearn was the fact that DeGale’s contract lacked a rematch clause and he believes that was because he hasn’t got the right management.
“It’s a crying shame. The worst thing you can be in boxing is a free agent and he was making out that it was great that he was a free agent. How can you not a have a rematch clause in a voluntary defence. This is incredible. People aren’t looking out for you. That’s the bottom line because you can’t have a voluntary defence without a rematch clause,” told Hearn to Boxing Social.
When asked if Hearn would like to work with DeGale ever again, he responded the following:
“I don’t think he’ll fight again. I think that will be it for him. I think he hasn’t got the desire he once had. I don’t think he’s in love with the sport of boxing. I texted him yesterday and said ‘maybe this is what you need’ because sometimes something has got to be taken away from you to make you realise how much you want it. And now it has been taken away from him. Now he has nothing. He doesn’t even have a rematch clause. If he had a rematch clause, that’s a big fight, that rematch. It’s just madness,” commented Hearn.
The promoter thinks DeGale will now have start from scratch and he doesn’t think the former IBF champion has what it takes to climb up from the bottom again.
“He’s gonna have to start from the bottom for money he’s going to hate and I think he may walk away. His career since he won that world title, the way it has been managed has been all over the place and he could have been a huge pay-per-view fighter in the UK,” he said.
https://twitter.com/boxnationtv/status/939631697074802688
Despite the harsh feedback, Hearn does have sympathy for DeGale who lost for the first time since 2011 when he got bested by George Groves.
“I feel for him. I do. He’s gone into that fight and now he’s just in complete wilderness and that is because he hasn’t got someone watching his back,” added Hearn.
DeGale said after the fight that he has to go back to the drawing board and think about possible changes. He also admitted that he might have rushed his comeback too early.
Aside from his tweet, DeGale has not commented on his loss yet.
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James DeGale Loses Title To Caleb Truax
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