DeGale out to prove himself as one of the best against Jack

The bout featured some intense exchanges between the two fighters. I’m glad I’m still the champ and I’m coming home with the title but I’m so upset that I didn’t come with the WBC belt. In between was a spectacular blend of courageous and skillful boxing to open the 2017 schedule.

Scores were 114-112 DeGale and 113-113 twice in a fight that would have gone in DeGale’?s favor if not for a Jack knockdown in the 12th round. The Post also scored the bout 113-113. “I’m not expecting an easy fight, but I’ll do whatever it takes to win”.

“Badou Jack is a great fighter, an underrated fighter, but this guy here is a whole other level”, Hearn said.

DeGale scored a flash knockdown in round 1 when he knocked Jack down with a left hand to the head. I won the fight. Jack comes in with a record of 20-1, 12 KO’s, while DeGale is 23-1, 14 KO’s. I was never hurt on the knockdown. “Skills pay the bills”, said Degale. But again, that is how I like it.

Degale floored Jack with a straight left in the first round and reminded him who the IBF champion was in the ring. The Englishman was in constant motion, moving side to side and fighting primarily from a southpaw stance. He fired quick combinations and used his better foot speed to turn on Jack and give him angles. Yet Jack’s greatest strength was his ability to not get discouraged by any adversity, as he got back to work in the eighth, digging to the body and marking up DeGale?’s face with shots upstairs. It means I have proven myself the hard way and that I am a seasoned, experienced fighter who has seen and done so much.

DeGale said he felt those punches from Jack in the 12th.

DeGale came out swinging in the 10th, landing a clubbing right midway through the round. DeGale should come into the fight considered the favorite, but Jack should not be overlooked in the slightest, and could very well pull off the victory. DeGale should have the speed, agility and punch variation advantage over Jack, however Jack is tough, ruggered, technically basic but effective along with accurate.

“We had plans after this fight to move up to Light Heavyweight”, said Floyd Mayweather, Jack’s promoter.

Opening the Showtime card was a star-making performance from Gervonta Davis, who claimed a world title at age 22, defeating Jose Pedraza in an excellent performance and an entertaining fight.