Warriors Boxing Wins Purse Bid For DeGale-Dirrell

Andre Dirrell needn't worry about heading back to England to once again contend for a super middleweight title. The lesson learned by James DeGale and his handlers: never bet against the bank.

Warriors Boxing stepped up in a big way, snatching the rights to promote the ordered vacant IBF super middleweight title fight between DeGale and Dirrell with a massive offer of $3.1 million during Tuesday's purse bid hearing.

The Florida-based promotional outfit outbid Matchroom Sport, DeGale's promoter who offered a generous bid of $2.105 million in hopes of bringing the fight overseas to jolly old England. 

In winning the purse bid, Warriors Boxing now has 15 days to file bout contracts with the IBF and stage the fight within the next 90 days, which would place the event in late May or early June. 

As DeGale and Dirrell are the top two contenders in the IBF, the purse will be split evenly. Both fighters will make $1.55 million for the vacant title fight. 

Dirrell (24-1, 16KOs) suffered the lone loss of his career on the road in England, dropping a debatable split decision to Carl Froch in their Oct. '09 clash. The bout helped kick off the Showtime Super Six World Boxing Classic, also serving as the lone title shot of Dirrell's career.

The Michigan native—who captured a Bronze medal during the 2004 Olympics—had in queue another crack at a major title. However, it meant having to face Andre Ward, Dirrell's Olympic teammate (Ward won a Gold medal, the last American fighter to have accomplished as much).

The fight never happened, with Dirrell—who suffered severe injuries in a disqualification win over Arthur Abraham in March '10—withdrawing from the bout and the tournament itself. His bizarre behavior also led to a split from promoter Gary Shaw and adviser Al Haymon, though he has since reconciled with the latter.

Haymon's involvement in the forthcoming title fight is apparent, as Warriors Boxing is one of several key promoters in his rotation. Warriors entered the fold in recent years, with its presence more evident in 2014 following the implosion of Golden Boy Promotions and its slow defection from any of Haymon's army of fighters the California-based promoter doesn't have under exclusive contract. 

Warrior's ability to reach into Haymon's deep pockets meant likely bringing this fight stateside, much to the chagrin of DeGale (20-1, 14KOs) and promoter Eddie Hearn, even if they likely spin it as an opportunity to expand the fighter's horizons.

DeGale enters his first title fight as a pro. The once highly-touted prospect has won nine straight since a narrow points loss to domestic rival George Groves when both were unbeaten blue chippers on the rise. 

Original plans called for waiting out a shot at the WBC title, which ironically would've landed DeGale a crack at Anthony Dirrell, Andre's younger brother. Instead, he focused his efforts on what he believed to be a far more lucrative showdown once he became mandatory to countryman and unified titlist Carl Froch. 

The superfight was not to be had, as Froch instead vacated his title. The top tier super middleweight was in line for a major fight with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. but has been relegated to the sidelines with an injury. It is likely that the veteran brawler will remain out of the ring unless he is able to secure a super fight and the super-sized payday to accompany such an event.