Jack, DeGale Only Want Big Fights From Here On Out

By Jake Donovan

Badou Jack and James DeGale both agree on at least two things heading into their January 14 super middleweight title unification clash; it’s the biggest bout of their respective careers, and the only way is up for the winner.

The forthcoming showdown will air live on Showtime from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. It’s a bout that has been in the making for nearly a year, with both featured in separate legs of a Showtime doubleheader last April to help build momentum towards the event.

All that came of the evening was confirmation that each are rightly recognized as the best two super middleweights in the world.

DeGale admittedly underestimated the challenge of Rogelio Medina, struggling to a 12-round points win for the second defense of the title he won in May ’15. Jack appeared to have outpointed former titlist Lucian Bute, only to have to settle for a draw. The verdict was further tainted when it was learned afterward that Bute tested positive for banned substance Ostarine.

Hopes of a head-on collision last fall dissolved, with the timeline pushed further back to the point of each settling for just one fight in 2016 and a nine-month layoff by the time they step into the ring. Regardless, nothing less than the best from each boxer is expected by the other.

“This fight will determine who is number-one in the (super middleweight) division,” England’s DeGale (23-1, 14KOs) insisted – echoing the thoughts of boxing pundits around the world – during a recent media conference call to discuss the event. “Badou Jack is a helluva fighter, an underrated fighter. He can compete at the highest level.”

While perhaps not as quick with the high praise, the sentiment was shared by his opponent.

“You have to give him credit… he goes into other fighters backyards and wins,” Jack (20-1-2, 12KOs) – a Swedish boxer now living and training in Las Vegas - pointed out of DeGale, who fights on North American soil for the fourth straight time. “On paper. yeah this is the biggest, absolutely. He's an Olympic Gold medalist (2008 Beijing Olympics, representing Great Britain), a world champion. He's a great fighter.”

Both boxers have made history in their respective careers, largely on the strength of their amateur accomplishments.
 
While Jack didn’t enjoy as much success as DeGale in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, his appearance was a watershed moment for Gambia, whom he represented in obtaining citizenship through his father’s heritage. He suffered a points loss to Vijender Singh in the opening round of the middleweight bracket but by that point had made history as the only boxer ever to represent Gambia in any Olympics competition.

In outpointing Anthony Dirrell in April ’15, Jack became just the sixth boxer ever from Sweden to claim a major title, and only the third male to do so. He has since added two title defenses – a points win over George Groves in Sept. ’15 and the aforementioned tainted draw with Bute.

DeGale’s title-winning moment came against Anthony’s older brother Andre Dirrell, scoring a narrow 12-round decision in their May ’15 vacant title fight in Boston, Mass. The win made him the first-ever boxer to have won an Olympic Gold medal for Great Britain and going on to claim a world title (Lennox Lewis won his Gold medal while representing Canada in the 1988 Seoul Olympics).

Two defenses have followed – a close-but-clear win over Bute in Nov. ‘15 on the road in Quebec City, Canada; and his aforementioned victory over Medina last April.

The winner of the January 14 clash will be recognized as the best super middleweight in the world, but that’s hardly the end game for either boxer.

“Whatever the money is, whatever the big fights is, that’s what I want,” Jack said of his post-fight plans, though naturally disclaimed by the fact that all of his focus is presently on DeGale and January 14. “I'm a big guy so yeah (moving up) can happen. Right now, I'm fine where I am. We'll see what happens after (January 14).”

Never one to shy away from publicly thinking ahead, DeGale’s vision was more revealing.

“I come through this if all goes to plan, I want the best,” DeGale stated. “I want (unbeaten, unified light heavyweight titlist) Andre Ward... any fight (at 175 or) at this weight. I want to be challenged. I want to be the underdog. I'm the favorite in this fight, but on paper it's 50/50.”

Twitter: @JakeNDaBox_v2