We have a new IBF World super middleweight champion.
Caleb Truax came to the Copper Box with a simple and effective game plan of moving forward and outworking James DeGale. After twelve rounds the American was announced as the winner via majority decision.
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“We watched a lot of Badou jack fight. We knew he didn’t like pressure that much. We made it a dog fight,” commented Truax.
DeGale looked rusty and even admitted that he rushed with his comeback.
“I gotta sort certain things out. I gotta change things. I thought I won it. I probably rushed back if I’m being honest. Maybe I should have waited until next year. I’m gutted and so upset,” said the former champion.
DeGale landed strong power shots in the first as Truax kept coming forward. The champion showed quality work and the American failed to land anything big.
Truax continued his forward movement in the second and kept landing good punches. DeGale answered with his right hook as he was shaking off a bit of ring rust in the second.
The challenger sustained pressure in the third with his simple forward movement as DeGale was still looking a bit rusty and getting hit with the American’s punches.
DeGale wasn’t doing much in the first half of the fourth round as Truax kept landing. The Londoner looked sharper in the final minute and landed good body shots but Truax was still doing well.
Truax stunned the champion with big punches in the fifth and DeGale was visibly in trouble. Truax pressured the champion against the ropes and landed flush with good shots. DeGale was hurt and bleeding but responded with strong shots of his own.
‘Chunky’ was on the back foot in the sixth but landed shots as Truax kept coming in. DeGale boxed nicely through the round and regrouped after a brief scare. In the seventh round DeGale kept leaning back against the ropes and hit Truax with strong counter shots. ‘Chunky’ was not using his jab much and the American thus had access to the inside.
The confident Truax kept pressuring DeGale against the rope in the eighth but was getting hit with strong counters.
Truax slowed down a bit in the ninth and was missing with his big shots. DeGale continued finding success with his counters.
DeGale was in a bit of trouble again in the tenth round. The Brit was struck with multiple punches again with his back against the ropes. Truax finished the round on the front foot and landed good shots on DeGale.
Finally DeGale improved in the eleventh and planted his feet as he looked for strong power shots. Truax wasn’t slowing down with his pressure and answered back with good straight rights.
The familiar pattern continued in the final round. Truax was on his front foot and pressured DeGale back into the corner. DeGale hit the challenger with counter shots and managed to land a couple of power shots in the middle of the ring as well.
The judges scored it 114-114, 115-112, 116-112 and Truax stunned the Copper Box with one of the biggest upsets of the year.