By Chris Williamson

Chris Eubank Jr scored a world level win at last as he comprehensively decisioned former two-time IBF super-middleweight champ James DeGale at London’s O2 arena. The judges scored 114-112, 115-112 and 117-109 for Eubank.

It was DeGale’s second fight since regaining his title in a stateside rematch against Caleb Truax, who wrenched the title from a listless DeGale fourteen months ago seven miles north of here at the Copper Box.

DeGale had dropped the belt to favour the lucrative Eubank Jr match over fulfilling his mandatory obligation versus Jose Uzcategui.

The fight served as Eubank’s return to world class following a clear decision loss to George Groves in a challenge for the WBA super super middleweight title in the semi-final of the World Boxing Super Series (WBSS) one year ago in Manchester.

The opener started brightly for DeGale, who landed two hard straight lefts to Eubanks chin, before an apparent head clash caused a cut above his left eye. 

Eubank took over dramatically in the second, rocking DeGale with combinations before a right against the ropes floored the former champion.

Despite regaining some composure in the third and landing the southpaw jab, DeGale was being caught with ominous regularity by Eubank’s straight right. 

A beautiful left hook in the tenth staggered DeGale, who lurched across the ring and a messy, whirlwind follow up from Eubank saw a knockdown called.

Eubank had a point deducted in the eleventh for something close to a wrestling manoeuvre which slammed DeGale on the canvas.

Eubank desperately sought a knockout to underline the performance in the final round, lunging at a weary, beaten DeGale. The knockout wouldn’t come but the win was clear.

Eubank Jr told talkSPORT: “I’m back on top. I proved the doubters wrong. This is one of those fights which puts me in position to challenge for world titles now and I’m very happy.

“There was massive pressure. We were both on the edge of this cliff and someone’s was going to fall – and whoever falls can’t come back. I’m still here now, onwards and upwards. He’s a difficult fighter but I thought I dominated the entire fight.”

Asked whether a rematch with Billy Joe Saunders could be in the near future, Eubank said: “Absolutely, we’ve got a lot of history. He has been caught doing drugs, I can’t condone that. I look at that and think does he deserve it? But the rivalry we have, it’s tough not to want that fight. I’d be open to.”