By Carlos Boogs
Agganis Arena, Boston, Massachusetts - In a battle for the vacant IBF super middleweight title, James DeGale (21-1, 14KOs) won a twelve round unanimous decision over Andre Dirrell (24-2, 16KOs). The scores were 114-112, 117-109, 114-112. DeGale becomes the first fighter in British history to win an Olympic gold medal and then move forward to capture a world title as a professional.
Both fighters started tight in a chess match, picking their spots and exchanging jabs mixed in with accurate shots. At the start of the second, Dirrell started landing several good punches after DeGale caught him with a sharp uppercut. One of those punches opened up a cut above the right eye of DeGale and that area started swelling up. But then DeGale sent him crashing down with a big left hand out of nowhere. He beat the count, but on shaky legs. A moment later DeGale jumped on him and landed several punches to score a second knockdown. Dirrell once again beat the count and held on until the bell.
Dirrell went back to his jab at the start of the third and seemed to have recovered from the previous round. DeGale was allowing himself to get controlled the jab and quicker punches. DeGale came back at the end of the round with two big shots to the chin or Dirrell. The fourth was close with both boxers getting their spots and punches in. During the fifth it was DeGale pushing the action and landing the bigger punches.
The sixth began with Dirrell being the aggressive and trying to take the fight to DeGale. He was using the jab coming in to set up some shots. The left side of Dirrell's face was swelling, and there was blood coming from his nose and mouth. Dirrell was making DeGale miss a lot of punches, but he was wasn't countering to make him pay and allowed DeGale to outwork him in spots. They traded punches to close the round out with both landing big shots.
For whatever reason, DeGale allowed Dirrell to outwork him for most of the seventh. DeGale was often backing up to the ropes and allowing Dirrell to let his hands go. DeGale blocked many of the punches but couldn't land any meaningful counters. The eight started with Dirrell controlled the pace and the action. He was pushing the tempo, landing the jab and catching DeGale with the right punches.
In the ninth, Dirrell continued to take advantage of DeGale slowing down. DeGale was moving around, but not throwing or landing many shots. Dirrell was working the jab, walking DeGale down and landing more punches. The tenth started with more of the same, with Dirrell pushing the action and outworking DeGale.
The eleventh started slowly. Dirrell eventually started pressing with DeGale once again on the backfoot. At one point DeGale jumped in close and stated letting his hands go. Dirrell blocked most of the shots. The end was close with DeGale landing a few of better punches to potentially clinch it.
DeGale came out swinging in the early moment of the twelfth. DeGale was on his toes and looking to make something happen. DeGale was starting to let his hands go, and pressing forward to close strong. Dirrell was landing hard, but it was DeGale countering better.
ON THE UNDERCARD
Agganis Arena, Boston, Massachusetts - Light heavyweight contender Edwin Rodriguez (26-1, 17KOs) started strong and was landing hard punches, but his third round stoppage of previously undefeated Craig Baker (16-1, 12KOs) was very premature. Rodriguez had Baker backed up against the ropes, and was landing some good punches but they weren't damaging punches and Baker seemed to have all of his senses. Out of nowhere, the referee jumped in and stopped the match. The stoppage seemed to surprise everyone.
Super bantamweight banger Jonathan Guzman (19-0, 19KOs) grabbed another knockout win with a fifth round stoppage over Christian Esquivel (27-7).
Welterweight contender Danny O'Connor (26-2, 10KOs) scored four knockdowns to stop overmatched Chris Gilbert (13-2, 10KOs) in the fifth round.
Gilbert was dominated in the fight. He went down in the second after a hard body shot. He was in pain and went down again from a good body shot, but the referee was out of position and waved it off, ruling the punch was a low blow. During the third, Gilbert went down again from what seemed to be more of a push, and it was scored as a knockdown. A cut opened up above the right eye of Gilbert near the end of the round. In the fifth, O'Connor scored two more knockdowns and the fight was waved off.
Gary O'Sullivan (21-1, 14KOs) stopped Melvin Betancourt (29-2, 23KOs) in the second round of a middleweight clash.
Logan McGuinness (23-0-1, 10KOs) had to get off the deck in round one to win a close six round unanimous decision over Gerardo Cuevas (17-14, 15KOs). All three judges had it 57-56.
Super featherweight prospect Ryan Kielczewski (23-1, 6KOs) bounced back after suffering his first career defeat, last month's eight round split decision loss to Danny Aquino, and stopped overmatched comeback opponent Anthony Napunyi (15-15, 8KOs) in the first round.
Super middleweight Edwin Espinal (6-0, 4KOs) won a four round unanimous decision over Alvaro Enriquez (12-14-2, 4KOs).