DeGale Building to a Mega-Fight?: Post Report Card

by Cliff Rold

James DeGale did his part. Will George Groves do his?

While it would surely be anticipated among any serious boxing fans, the UK may have a stadium show rematch to look forward to in the near future. Groves, who helped to bring over 80,000 to Wembley for his rematch with Carl Froch in 2014, is slated for a title shot against WBC titlist Badou Jack, though specifics have yet to be announced.

Should Groves win, a rematch with DeGale of their narrowly contested early career contest which Groves won by majority decision in 2011 is already big business. As a Super Middleweight unification, it could only get bigger.  

DeGale, a 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist for the Brits, overcame an early cut, scored two knockdowns in the second, and then rallied in the last two rounds to secure a road win over 2004 US Olympic Bronze Medalist Andre Dirrell. 

Let’s go the report card.

Grades

Pre-Fight: Intangibles – Dirrell B; DeGale B+/Post: Same

Those picking DeGale going into the fight, including here in the pre-fight report card, looked for DeGale to get it done in the second half. It turned out a little different. After losing the first, and suffering the cut in the second, DeGale uncorked a bomb.

He won that round with two knockdowns and probably the next four as well. Dirrell was standing in the pocket, he wasn’t moving, and he was losing. Then Dirrell, whose fighting character has been questioned, dug in. He may have swept the next four rounds. No, the fight wasn’t scintillating, but there was drama.

In some ways, it was Dirrell’s best career performance even in a losing effort. Inactivity has plagued him. The depth of his resume is shallow. To get up from the knockdown in the second and make the adjustments to get back into the fight was commendable.

It just wasn’t good enough.

DeGale, who just wasn’t throwing enough in the heart of the fight, found what he needed in the eleventh to seal the victory. The twelfth was close but, with the knockdowns, there could only be one fair victor.

Dirrell, at 31, will likely have more chances. If he fights the way he did Saturday, it will be good to see him back.

DeGale made his future chances and the rewards will be there. He showed superior skill for much of the night, using timing to beat speed and slipping and blocking when Dirrell let go in multiple. When he did get caught, he took the shots well. Look for him to continue to improve as a professional. Don’t be surprised if he’s somewhere with his fingers crossed tight from bell to bell during Groves-Jack.  

Report Card and Staff Picks 2015: 37-8

Cliff Rold is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene, a founding member of the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board, and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America.  He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com