by David P. Greisman
Badou Jack has known that he was going to face James DeGale in a super middleweight unification bout ever since they both headlined the same card on April 30. Truly, he likely knew even beforehand, as the talk back then was that the winners of Jack’s fight with Lucian Bute and DeGale’s fight with Rogelio “Porky” Medina would face off before the end of 2016.
Jack was robbed in a draw with Bute, while DeGale outpointed Medina. Jack-DeGale won’t take place this year — five months after that card in Washington, D.C., their fight was finally announced for Jan. 14 on Showtime.
It pits one world titleholder against another. Jack expects to leave that night with two belts, but that it won’t be an easy task.
“I’m 100 percent confident I’m going to beat him, but it’s going to be a very tough fight,” Jack told BoxingScene.com. “I’m preparing like always for my toughest fight. He’s one of the best. He’s in his prime. I’m kind of in my prime, too. We’re both about the same age. He’s a little younger [Jack is about to turn 33, DeGale will turn 31 in a few months]. I’m very excited. Finally, it’s official.”
Jack is 20-1-2 with 12 KOs. After suffering a surprising first-round stoppage loss to Derek Edwards in early 2014, he understood the mistakes he’d made and looked to rebuild, putting together two victories before landing a shot at Anthony Dirrell for a world title. Jack beat Dirrell by majority decision in April 2015 and defended his belt later that year with a split decision over Groves. The Bute bout will be his only one this year.
Jack said he’d ideally have returned in September but understands that delays can happen.
“It’s part of the sport. You got to be patient,” Jack said. “I know Floyd [Mayweather, his promoter] wants the best for me. They’ve been negotiating. I don’t know the details why it took so long. Better late than never … I’m fine with January, now we got a lot of time. I’m going to be in the best shape of my life. I’m ready to go.”
Jack will be facing an opponent who is 23-1 with 14 KOs. DeGale dropped a razor-thin decision to Groves in 2011 back when both were prospects. DeGale hasn’t lost since, a 13-fight win streak that brought a decision over Andre Dirrell to pick up a vacant belt in May 2015, a decision over Bute in November 2015, and then a decision over Medina.
“He’s a world champion. He’s an Olympic gold medalist. So obviously he’s doing something right,” Jack said. “The fighters he beat, the last three or four opponents have been very good. We have fought similar guys. I know what I’ve been through. He’s been through almost the same. To be able to do that, you got to be good. So I’m expecting a tough fight. I’m never overlooking anyone, especially not him.
“He’s one of the best. I’m one of the best,” Jack said. “To beat him would make me the best super middleweight in the world. That’ll mean everything to me. After that, we go to the next one.”
Pick up a copy of David’s book, “Fighting Words: The Heart and Heartbreak of Boxing,” at http://bit.ly/fightingwordsamazon or internationally at http://bit.ly/fightingwordsworldwide. Send questions/comments via email at fightingwords1@gmail.com
