By Jake Donovan

Andre Dirrell and James DeGale are set for their vacant super middleweight title fight, which headlines at the Agganis Arena in Boston, Mass. The bout will air live on NBC ( Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET

), as part of Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) series. 

Dirrell aims for his second crack at a major title, coming up just short in a disputed decision loss to Carl Froch way back in Oct. ’09. The bout helped kick off the Showtime Super Six World Boxing Classic, and also serves as Dirrell’s lone loss to date. 

Six straight wins have followed, though spread out over a stretch of more than five years for the Flint, Mich. native, who captured a Bronze medal for the United States during the 2004 Athens Olympics. The first win of his current streak was also a fight that nearly ruined his career, suffering severe head injuries in a 10th round disqualification win over previously unbeaten Arthur Abraham in their March ’10 clash in Detroit. Dirrell was drilled by Abraham after having slipped and fallen to the canvas, the blow rendering him senseless to the point where he thought he was the victim of a controversial knockout loss.

The lingering damage was enough to force him to withdraw from the Super Six tournament—and in effect put his career on hold. Dirrell resurfaced some 21 months later, but an intended rust-shaking win over Darryl Cunningham wound up serving as his lone piece of ring action over a span of three years. Yet another ring return was followed by yet another lengthy gap between fights, as a 10-round decision win over Michael Gbenga in Feb. ’13 was a one-and-done affair before coming back last August. 

Saturday’s bout will mark his fourth fight in the span of less than 10 months, suggestive of being all the way back. 

Of course, DeGale (20-1, 14KOs) intends to do everything in his power to test that theory. Saturday’s contest marks his first title shot and also the first states appearance for the Londoner, who captured a Gold medal for Great Britain in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

DeGale became the mandatory challenger for the title following a 4th round knockout of Brandon Gonzales last May. The feat came on the undercard of then-super middleweight titlist Carl Froch’s repeat knockout of George Groves in front of 80,000 fans at Wembley Stadium In London. 

A stay-busy knockout win over Marco Antonio Periban last November added to DeGale’s case for a major showdown with his countryman.  However, Froch opted to relinquish the title in pursuit of major fights, although a bum shoulder and thoughts of retirement have kept him on the sidelines. 

It’s not the dream fight DeGale envisioned, but still a shot at a title and against a formidable foe with an equally rich amateur pedigree.

Read on to see how the staff at  BoxingScene.com

 believes this weekend’s super middleweight action goes down in Beantown.

BOXINGSCENE.COM

 STAFF PREDICTIONS: JAMES DEGALE vs. ANDRE DIRRELL

Ryan Burton (DeGale SD): I expect a close fight with the Brit winning a maybe somewhat controversial split decision. 

Jake Donovan (DeGale SD): No matter the outcome, the other side will have plenty to say (unless it ends in a draw, in which case nobody will be happy). I like DeGale to edge it here, with the fight playing out similar to Badou Jack’s win over Anthony Dirrell less than a month ago.

Takahiro Onaga (Dirrell SD): Dirrell to beat DeGale in controversial decision.

Cliff Rold (DeGale Dec.): This is a coin flip fight but I think DeGale is a little mentally tougher. He'll be more willing to make it a fight when he needs to and that will be enough in the second half. This is a spot where a highly debated decision won't be a surprise.

Victor Salazar (DeGale Dec.): Dirrell has elite talent but we haven’t seen him with upper level opposition since the Super Six. Degale has fought the better opposition as of late and feel if he can get an honest decision, he will win it.

Reynaldo Sanchez (Dirrell UD): DeGale hasn’t fought anyone at the level of Dirrell, this will be in my opinion a fight where Andre come back to the boxing scene at this weight class.

Alexey Sukachev (Dirrell SD): A classic stinker with two stylists/spoilers who look very much alike. The difference is the home advantage. It should help Dirrell get a win in the otherwise even fight. DeGale's main hope should be for Dirrell's rustiness. If not he won't be in a good position.

Stephen Edwards (Dirrell UD):

I enjoyed Bobby Chacon vs. Bazooka Limon 4, Diego Corrales vs. Jose Castillo1, and Gatti vs. Ward 1 as much as anybody. I don’t crap on fights that aren’t knock out drag down brawls. I think Dirrell vs DeGale is excellent matchmaking. This is truly a 50/50 fight. I’m leaning Andre Dirrell because I think his punches are more judge friendly. He has eye catching punch release like a young Roy Jones. But mentally he seems up and down and he loses his bearing somewhat late in fights. I have seen it occur to often to just be an off night.

DeGale is not as physically talented but he’s steady and he has a unique rhythm. The more I write the more I lean DeGale. That’s how close this is. But I’m going to stick with my initial gut feeling. Andre Dirrell by MD. I look for him to be on fire early. But lots of swing rounds as mid fight surfaces. This fight could remind everyone of McDonnell vs. Kameda last week. With DeGale being McDonnell and Dirrell being Kameda. But this time the more flashier fighter wins.

 

Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of 

BoxingScene.com

. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox