Rematch between DeGale, Jack unlikely after draw
Floyd Mayweather was irate.
While all three judges and most ringside observers viewed a seesaw battle that could have went either way, the former champ wouldn’t relent. He proudly wore his promoter hat Saturday as his fighter, Badou Jack, faced James DeGale in a super middleweight unification title fight in Brooklyn.
DeGale (23-1-1, 14 KOs) built an early lead after scoring a flash knockdown in the opening round, and Jack was forced to rally. And he did. The Swede timed DeGale and landed the harder shots. Jack even scored a punishing knock- down in Round 12, busted DeGale’s eardrum, knocked out the Brit’s tooth and badly damaged his right eye. But it wasn’t enough after a slow start. At least not to everyone not named Mayweather.
“This is (expletive),” Mayweather said at the postfight news conference, befuddled by a tally of 114-112 for DeGale and two 113-113 tallies. “We’re not gonna be like other promoters and pay judges off. We’re not doing that. Treat us fair. Just treat us fair.”
Both Jack (20-1-3, 12 KOs) and DeGale left Barclays Center with their 168-pound titles around their waist. The two best fighters in the division will need another 12 rounds to decide super middleweight supremacy. But there’s not going to be a rematch, even after DeGale, an Olympic gold medalist, pleaded for one.
Mayweather was adamant this was Jack’s last outing at 168 pounds and that his next fight will take place at 175 pounds. So now the target is lineal light heavyweight champion Adonis Stevenson, and Mayweather called for a June meeting.
“I want to be tested,” said Jack, 33. “I want the big, big fights. I don’t care who’s in front of me.”
DeGale, who went to a nearby hospital for examination and missed the news conference, owes No. 1 contender Jose Uzcategui a shot at his IBF title. But a far bigger bout would pit DeGale against countryman Callum Smith, an undefeated prospect who was ringside Saturday.
“I’ve had 25 fights; I’m going to get better,” DeGale said. “The main thing is I didn’t lose, I’m still the champ.”