James DeGale v Badou Jack - Sky Sports

[Dark Lord Al]

Does DeGale look like he is struggling to make the weight is he gaunt ?
degale.jpg

[Master]

James DeGale and Badou Jack go to face-to-face in a huge unification fight this weekend but they've never been far apart.

From the Olympics, to four common foes, to brotherly love, we take a look at the same footsteps the super-middleweight stars have trodden...

The pinnacle of amateur boxing saw both fighters make an impact at the 2008 Beijing Games - one making history outside the ring, and the other winning the ultimate prize.


Jack led the Gambia team in the opening ceremony at the 2008 games. Jack had represented Sweden in a decent career but when the Olympics came around, he switched to Gambia, the country where his father is from. Carrying the flag into the opening ceremony was the highlight, though, as he went out of the middleweight competition, losing to Vijender Singh in the first round.

DeGale struck gold in Beijing, laying the platform to make boxing history. DeGale's success came in the shape of the ultimate achievement, becoming the first British boxer for 40 years to strike gold at middleweight. He breezed through the first three rounds, then beat Darren Sutherland, and in the final, edged out a Cuban ace, Emilio Correa 16-14. The dream was on.

There is only one place to start when it comes to common opponents, especially with George Groves still playing a leading role in the top-level 168lbs soap opera.

It may have been five years ago but the long-standing rivalry between DeGale and the 'Saint' still stays with us. A majority decision going Groves' way merely fuelled a fire that started with his original win in the amatuers and, at 2-0 down, DeGale still wants a third fight with his foe.


Jack did what DeGale couldn't and beat George Groves. DeGale's loss was followed by Jack's win four years later and, although the fights were literally miles apart, the similarities were there. Jack won via split decision with a second-round knockdown seeing him home, leaving Groves fuming at the judges and calling for an instant rematch on the night Floyd Mayweather boxed for the final time.

Marco Antonio Periban, The Mexican has done nothing to put himself on the boxing map, but he is one of DeGale and Jack's four common foes.

Periban fought them both in the space of just over a year. Jack beat DeGale to the punch when it came to Periban but again, not in the ring. Jack had won all his 15 pro fights but when he met Periban at the MGM Grand Ballroom, he did not waltz to a sweet 16th. A 10-rounder that was scored 95-95, 94-96, 95-95 ended in a majority draw.

DeGale had already lost, of course, but he became the first man to stop the Mexican inside the distance. Back then the IBF super-middleweight champion was a certain Carl Froch and as the mandatory challenger, 'Chunky' left him with plenty to chew on.

Lucian Bute, the Canadian-based fighter is the only one to tackle both DeGale and Jack back-to-back and, having held the IBF title for four years, he remains the toughest previous test for both men until they meet each other.

Jack was taken to a draw by Bute - who failed a post-fight drug test. Jack fought Bute most recently. A tough, gruelling battle with little to choose between them ended in a stalemate but perhaps Benoit Roussel, who scored it 117-111 in Jack's favour, got it right. Bute, of course, failed a post-fight drugs test.

DeGale's first world title defence took him to Canada and Bute. It was never going to be easy for DeGale either, at least for the right reasons. A first defence of DeGale's IBF title on the challenger's home soil was one thing, but against a Canadian who had won all nine world title fights in Quebec made it even tougher. 'Chunky' showed his speed and class at times and, even if Bute came on strong towards the end, the champion came through to strengthen his standing across the pond.

Rogelio Medina

'Porky' lost to both but played a huge part in finally bringing the unification fight together.

Jack is not one to look back and use past fights in his psychological battles, even if his performance against the Mexican was the better of the two. It took him six rounds to stop Medina and, even if his next fight was his solitary defeat after a flash first-round KO at the hands of Derek Edwards, Jack had crackled against 'Porky'.

DeGale, on the other hand, was left with plenty to consider. On the same Washington card when Jack took on Bute, DeGale will admit himself that it was far from a capital gain. 'Chunky' took it easy, knowing the decision was going his way - if there is a positive from his perspective, he believes the "rubbish" performance finally convinced Jack to fight him.

Dirrell brothers, brothers in boxing are not that unusual but Andre and Anthony's separate roles in bringing together this weekend's unification fight is surely unique.

Jack was the first to face and beat a Dirrell brother to win a world title. Anthony is the younger of the two and was the first of them to win a world title - and of course, lose it. Jack was his first defence and although it went to a majority decision, it was scored Jack's way - for the first time in over 50 years since Ingemar Johansson was ruling the heavyweight scene, Sweden had a world champion.

Andre's part in this weekend's historic night came just 32 days later when DeGale went out to Boston to challenge him for the vacant IBF strap. Dirrell was down twice in the second round and it seemed plain sailing for 'Chunky' but they went the distance and, all of a sudden, it needed the scorecards to secure a result for British boxing folklore.

DeGale is the first British boxer to win Olympic gold then a professional world title, while Jack is Sweden's first world title holder for over 50 years. The Dirrells helped them both on their way...

Watch James DeGale v Badou Jack in a unification fight from the Barclays Center, New York, live on Sky Sports 1, 2am, Sunday, January 15.

DeGale vs Jack: The two champions have plotted a similar path to their unification clash | Boxing News | Sky Sports

[Dark Lord Al]

James DeGale and Badou Jack go to face-to-face in a huge unification fight this weekend but they've never been far apart.

From the Olympics, to four common foes, to brotherly love, we take a look at the same footsteps the super-middleweight stars have trodden...

The pinnacle of amateur boxing saw both fighters make an impact at the 2008 Beijing Games - one making history outside the ring, and the other winning the ultimate prize.


Jack led the Gambia team in the opening ceremony at the 2008 games. Jack had represented Sweden in a decent career but when the Olympics came around, he switched to Gambia, the country where his father is from. Carrying the flag into the opening ceremony was the highlight, though, as he went out of the middleweight competition, losing to Vijender Singh in the first round.

DeGale struck gold in Beijing, laying the platform to make boxing history. DeGale's success came in the shape of the ultimate achievement, becoming the first British boxer for 40 years to strike gold at middleweight. He breezed through the first three rounds, then beat Darren Sutherland, and in the final, edged out a Cuban ace, Emilio Correa 16-14. The dream was on.

There is only one place to start when it comes to common opponents, especially with George Groves still playing a leading role in the top-level 168lbs soap opera.

It may have been five years ago but the long-standing rivalry between DeGale and the 'Saint' still stays with us. A majority decision going Groves' way merely fuelled a fire that started with his original win in the amatuers and, at 2-0 down, DeGale still wants a third fight with his foe.


Jack did what DeGale couldn't and beat George Groves. DeGale's loss was followed by Jack's win four years later and, although the fights were literally miles apart, the similarities were there. Jack won via split decision with a second-round knockdown seeing him home, leaving Groves fuming at the judges and calling for an instant rematch on the night Floyd Mayweather boxed for the final time.

Marco Antonio Periban, The Mexican has done nothing to put himself on the boxing map, but he is one of DeGale and Jack's four common foes.

Periban fought them both in the space of just over a year. Jack beat DeGale to the punch when it came to Periban but again, not in the ring. Jack had won all his 15 pro fights but when he met Periban at the MGM Grand Ballroom, he did not waltz to a sweet 16th. A 10-rounder that was scored 95-95, 94-96, 95-95 ended in a majority draw.

DeGale had already lost, of course, but he became the first man to stop the Mexican inside the distance. Back then the IBF super-middleweight champion was a certain Carl Froch and as the mandatory challenger, 'Chunky' left him with plenty to chew on.

Lucian Bute, the Canadian-based fighter is the only one to tackle both DeGale and Jack back-to-back and, having held the IBF title for four years, he remains the toughest previous test for both men until they meet each other.

Jack was taken to a draw by Bute - who failed a post-fight drug test. Jack fought Bute most recently. A tough, gruelling battle with little to choose between them ended in a stalemate but perhaps Benoit Roussel, who scored it 117-111 in Jack's favour, got it right. Bute, of course, failed a post-fight drugs test.

DeGale's first world title defence took him to Canada and Bute. It was never going to be easy for DeGale either, at least for the right reasons. A first defence of DeGale's IBF title on the challenger's home soil was one thing, but against a Canadian who had won all nine world title fights in Quebec made it even tougher. 'Chunky' showed his speed and class at times and, even if Bute came on strong towards the end, the champion came through to strengthen his standing across the pond.

Rogelio Medina

'Porky' lost to both but played a huge part in finally bringing the unification fight together.

Jack is not one to look back and use past fights in his psychological battles, even if his performance against the Mexican was the better of the two. It took him six rounds to stop Medina and, even if his next fight was his solitary defeat after a flash first-round KO at the hands of Derek Edwards, Jack had crackled against 'Porky'.

DeGale, on the other hand, was left with plenty to consider. On the same Washington card when Jack took on Bute, DeGale will admit himself that it was far from a capital gain. 'Chunky' took it easy, knowing the decision was going his way - if there is a positive from his perspective, he believes the "rubbish" performance finally convinced Jack to fight him.

Dirrell brothers, brothers in boxing are not that unusual but Andre and Anthony's separate roles in bringing together this weekend's unification fight is surely unique.

Jack was the first to face and beat a Dirrell brother to win a world title. Anthony is the younger of the two and was the first of them to win a world title - and of course, lose it. Jack was his first defence and although it went to a majority decision, it was scored Jack's way - for the first time in over 50 years since Ingemar Johansson was ruling the heavyweight scene, Sweden had a world champion.

Andre's part in this weekend's historic night came just 32 days later when DeGale went out to Boston to challenge him for the vacant IBF strap. Dirrell was down twice in the second round and it seemed plain sailing for 'Chunky' but they went the distance and, all of a sudden, it needed the scorecards to secure a result for British boxing folklore.

DeGale is the first British boxer to win Olympic gold then a professional world title, while Jack is Sweden's first world title holder for over 50 years. The Dirrells helped them both on their way...

Watch James DeGale v Badou Jack in a unification fight from the Barclays Center, New York, live on Sky Sports 1, 2am, Sunday, January 15.

DeGale vs Jack: The two champions have plotted a similar path to their unification clash | Boxing News | Sky Sports

Also they are both shit / boring to watch / are light punchers / and both have had charisma transplants.

[Spicoli]

DeGale was almost entertaining last out and was partially due to Porky Medina hitting him clean. Jack is decent but settles. Dude coasts and between the two this may settle into distance affair. Gem might be on undercard with touted Gervanta Davis v Pedraza solid match up. Who says yanks do not travel

live fights! Seems like it's been months.

[Kirkland Laing]

De Gale will outpoint him but he's not consistent and will leave enough rounds close or lose them so that the judges can give the decision to Jack. So 2017 will start off with another shitty decision.

[chef97]

I think this will be a terrific fight featuring two champions in their prime contesting the Super middleweight lineal, Ring & WBC/IBF titles..... I'm rooting for Badou but think "Chunky" gets the points win by outlasting Jack..... I really have to like the way Badou Jack 20-1-2 has stepped up and fought the best competition after suffering his only loss via upset TKO in 2014.... The Ripper's last few opponents: (W) Anthony Dirrell 27-1, (W) George Groves 22-2, (D) Lucian Bute 32-3 and now the highly regarded 168 champ James DeGale 23-1.....

[Fenster]

Top matchup (as far as the division goes).

Don't see anything particularly impressive about Jack but considering he keeps getting the nod over fellow top/solid/good fighters he's doing something right. I'm in the minority that rate DeGale higher than he probably deserves so expect him to wipe the floor with Jack, however, considering he's an expert at switching off, it's more likely Jack nicks rounds making it close, especially as the "home" fighter.

The draw at 25/1 must be worth some shrapnel.

[Master]

I hope DeGale pulls this off. I would love Floyd to lose another champion.

[Pastor John]

Jack was robbed against Bute and I believe he won tonight, but it was too close to be called a robbery. I agree on the move to 175 and most people think Jack won tonight so Degale needs to fight him at 175 if he wants the rematch.

[palmerq]

I think the promotors ike degale maybe more than jack, even if jack is promoted by mayweather, I would think they see more money in having de gale taking on anthony dirrell , which would make a pretty fun fight, de gale certainly has a few good options right now

[powerpuncher]

I felt like this was a ward-kovalev type of scoring. It wasn't a robbery but I thought jack deserved the bid for sure. I could see degale winning though if you gave him the close rounds instead of jack.

[Dia bando]

Callum Smith is the man in waiting he would Ko both of them.
DeGale is a frustrating fighter to watch he keeps bending down straight into Jack's right hand uppercut.
James could have outboxed Jack but he makes heavy weather of it,! but it was a good fight to watch.
Smith must be licking his lips that fight took a bit out of DeGale.
Jack well I think Smith would just brake him in about 6 rounds.