James DeGale: The Infuriatingly Talented Entertainer Who Can Beat Badou Jack
In defending his IBF super middleweight title for a second time, James DeGale entertained and infuriated with equal measure.
The Englishman overcame mandatory challenger Rogelio Medina by unanimous decision in Washington D.C., triumphing by scores of 117-111 (twice) and 116-112.
DeGale was calculated and clinical in much of his work. The southpaw sparkled at times, uncorking right uppercuts with ridiculous ease in the second half of the contest.
There were moments when he showed off his defensive capabilities, too. He ducked and dodged away from his Mexican opponent, slipping underneath punches or cleverly side-stepping shots.
Yet Chunky—who now has a 23-1 (14 KOs) record—was also complacent. He took unnecessary risks, rolling against the ropes on far too many occasions to allow Medina the chance to attack.
DeGale revealed after the fight it was a calculated gamble to put on a show, per David P. Greisman of BoxingScene.com:
I’m in entertaining fights. Always in entertaining fights. I can make these fights easier. I’m boxing the best and I’m willing to box the best.
I could go in there, move my feet just like Floyd for 12 rounds and literally make it boring and pick his head off, and it’d have been easy.
I was laying on the ropes, letting him in the fight. That’s fact. Porky Medina is terrible. He’s the worst mandatory challenger I’ve ever seen.
First, DeGale's description of Medina seemed needlessly harsh. The Mexican was perhaps fortunate to get such an opportunity, but Porky weighed in with a creditable performance on the biggest night in his career. To suggest he was "the worst mandatory challenger" was unnecessary.
Perhaps DeGale did not see Jo Jo Dan and Kevin Bizier, the last two men the IBF considered worthy of the chance to face welterweight champion Kell Brook?
Then there was Hasim Rahman. The washed-up heavyweight was somehow first in the queue to face then-WBC champion Alexander Povetkin in 2012. He failed to last more than five minutes against the Russian.
Medina, therefore, doesn't even get a place on the podium of those least deserving mandatory status.
Going back to DeGale's quotes, he could have suggested a better example than Floyd Mayweather Jr. when talking about "making it boring."
Sure, Money may not be a big gambler when it comes to his career. He cherry-picked opponents and was a defensive specialist who made a habit of winning on points.
But as someone who admits his aim is to make as much money as possible as quickly as possible, DeGale should look up to Mayweather Jr., who told Showtime he is discussing a comeback for a nine-figure fee:
Money knows just how to maximise his earning potential. DeGale needs to take notes, not criticise the American for his fighting style, as he aims to cash in on his success before hanging up the gloves.
DeGale told Nik Simon of the Daily Mail in November 2015 (WARNING: Linked article contains language NSFW): "They say only four per cent of boxers retire and don’t have to work. I want to be part of that four per cent. I want to get the Maserati and make the millions."
The Londoner may believe the best way to achieve his target is to get involved in scraps with fighters like Medina.
The better option, however, would have to be using such bouts as the opportunity to showcase his abilities. To borrow a quote from DeGale himself, per Gareth A Davies of the Telegraph, "skills pay the bills."
He is undoubtedly talented, too. Just take a look at a clip of the action from Round 9, tweeted by Showtime:
The challenger always held his hands high and by the side of his head. DeGale duly noted this, responding with uppercut after uppercut.
His jab was also an effective weapon against an easy target, although badly neglected at stages when it could have been the key to creating opportunities.
According to CompuBox stats (h/t Dan Rafael of ESPN.com), the Londoner landed 314 of his 612 punches. Medina, in contrast, threw 1,140 shots and only hit the target with 265 of them.
If the champion had demonstrated anywhere close to the same output as his opponent, there was the potential for the bout to be over long before the final bell.
Former world champion turned television pundit Johnny Nelson wondered if fitness was an issue for DeGale, and he told Sky Sports:
We saw the skills that James has got, the speed and the unorthodox style. He made it look so easy at times and when he was slipping shots against the ropes, Medina didn't know what to do with him.
Then on the other hand, because he was so busy looking good, he wasn't picking up the points or getting the job done. He did it in spurts and at times I thought he was gassing a little bit because when he turned it on, he'd do it for 15 seconds then switch it off.
DeGale's recent record doesn't suggest stamina was a stumbling block in his bid to record a stoppage.
His last three fights—unanimous-decision wins over Andre Dirrell, Lucian Bute and now Medina—have all gone the distance. In all of those outings he has looked brilliant in bursts, only to take periods off to save energy.
It is a worrying trend that needs to be stopped. There is the underlying feeling with DeGale that while what you see from him is very good, there is still even more to come from him.
He may need more in his next fight, which looks set to be a unification clash against Badou Jack, the WBC's champion.
Jack was on the same bill in Washington D.C., retaining his belt with a majority draw against Bute. The decision surprised many boxing experts on Twitter:
DeGale—who had a quick change before taking up a seat at ringside—would not have been overly concerned with what he saw. He knows how tough Bute can be, even at the age of 36, having fought 12 rounds against him in Quebec, Canada, in November 2015.
Jack started strongly against Bute but faded down the stretch. He still deserved to win on the cards, but at least the dubious decision didn't stop him keeping hold of the title.
DeGale-Jack has been pencilled in for September. London and Las Vegas have been mentioned as potential venues—both men will go where they can earn the most money.
Mayweather Jr.—who promotes Jack—said of the potential showdown, per Sky Sports (h/t Isaac Robinson of SkySports.com): "We have to take that to the UK. We have to."
Those words will be music to the ears of DeGale, as he would love a homecoming after three bouts on the road.
He is happy to travel but has not fought in the English capital since knocking out Brandon Gonzales on the undercard to the Carl Froch-George Groves fight at Wembley Stadium in May 2014.
The 30-year-old watched on that night as his long-time rival, Groves, came a cropper for a second time against The Cobra. Now, as a world champion, he could get the chance to top a pay-per-view card on home turf.
DeGale is unlikely to be so lackadaisical in his approach against Jack. As pointed out by Bad Left Hook on Twitter, the holder of the WBC strap likes to target the body:
Leaning back on the ropes, just as he did against Medina, would be an unwise move against the American-based Swede.
However, DeGale has the technique and temperament to end Jack's reign, provided he doesn't let his standards slip.
His fine amateur pedigree—Chunky won a gold medal at the 2008 Olympics—gave him a brilliant base to build on. He may lack for a little power, he has a 58 per cent knockout ratio, per BoxRec, but he has the speed and sharpness to record stoppages.
Kevin Mitchell wrote in the Guardian: "The problem for DeGale, an interesting, likeable and hugely talented boxer, is he doesn’t often deliver the animal buzz fight fans crave. He coasted against Medina because his is such a natural talent. It was entertaining for admirers of nuance and trickery."
DeGale does entertain, and his bout with Medina was good to watch. But it could have been even better.
Perhaps, though, he's just saving up a sensational performance for September. Potentially cheered on by a home crowd in the capital, DeGale will have everything in his favour to dazzle against Jack.
