City Academy Sports Centre, Bristol, Avon - WBC silver super middleweight champion James DeGale (18-1, 12KOs) stopped previously undefeated Gevorg Khatchikian (20-1, 8KOs) in eleven rounds. DeGale dominated the action from the opening bell. He started picking up the pace and battering his opponent in the fifth round. Although DeGale was dominating the action, he was struggling to finish Khatchikian off.
During the sixth, it appeared that DeGale was momentarily rocked and he was getting pounded against the ropes. DeGale came right back in the sixth and seventh, ripping the body of Khatchikian. In the ninth, DeGale had him in serious trouble with a series of big shots to the head and body.
During the eleventh, DeGale shredded the body with hard shots that sent Khatchikian down twice. The second time the referee waved things off.
The immediate future of DeGale is in question. The WBC had previously ordered him to face Badou Jack in a final title eliminator. But Jack was upset on Friday night, suffering a shock first round TKO defeat at the hands of Derek Edwards in Verona, New York.
DeGale may now get a direct pass to full WBC champion Sakio Bika.
In the co-feature, Lee Haskins (29-3, 12KOs) stopped Luke Wilson (15-4-1, 7KOs) in two rounds.
