James DeGale Must Face Jose Uzcategui By February 26

By Jake Donovan

As James DeGale continues envision a dream 2016 campaign, the reigning International Boxing Federation (IBF) super middleweight titlist is reminded of the reality that awaits his immediate future.

Following two straight fights on North American soil, DeGale and his team are keen on returning home to the United Kingdom for his next ring appearance. It’s not an unreasonable request – only that it will have come in a mandatory defense versus Jose Uzcategui.

His recent 12-round win over Lucian Bute in a thriller this past November came at the cost of using up his option for a voluntary defense. DeGale claimed a vacant belt in a unanimous decision over Andre Dirrell last May in Boston. As is the case in vacant title fights, the winner is obligated to make a mandatory defense.

There was wiggle room for the Brit to make an optional defense, though with the understanding that he would have to face or come to terms with his mandatory challenger by no later than nine months from the date on which he won the title.

“DeGale has to defend against Uzcategui by 2/26,” IBF spokesperson Jeanette Salazar informed BoxingScene.com of the circumstances surrounding his title status. “That was the condition by which he was granted the exception to fight Bute.”

Uzcategui (24-1, 20KOs) claimed top contender status following a two-round knockout of previously unbeaten Julius Jackson in October. The second time proved to be a charm for the Venezuela-born boxer who now fights out of Mexico; his previous venture into the title picture resulted in a disappointing 10-round loss to Matt Korobov, who went on to challenge for the middleweight title.

Just two wins have followed, although none bigger in his career than the knockout over Jackson. The fight came by luck of the draw, jumping in when Rogelio ‘Porky’ Medina withdrew from the sanctioned eliminator. Uzcategui seized the moment, jumping on Jackson from the opening bell and scoring four knockdowns in all before sealing the deal less than a minute into the 2nd round of their Fox Sports 1-televised bout.

From there, the now 25-year old contender waited out the Showtime-televised headliner between DeGale and Bute before making his next move.

There was talk – perhaps hope – on the champion’s side of perhaps heading in another direction for his targeted first title fight at home.

“I’d love him to fight (WBC super middleweight titlist Badou) Jack or (former middleweight titlist Julio Cesar) Chavez Jr.,” Eddie Hearn, DeGale’s promoter told BoxingScene.com UK Editor Shaun Brown a few weeks after DeGale’s win over Bute. “But he’s also got a mandatory to take care of which is Jose Uzcategui. And [the IBF} made an exception [for James] to fight Bute but [Uzcategui] is also with (adviser) creator Al Haymon, I believe, so there’s some maneuvering to be done.”

DeGale signed with Haymon last summer, along with Hearn already enjoying a solid working relationship with the powerful adviser and Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) creator. DeGale’s win over Dirrel and Uzcategui’s knockout over Jackson took place on PBC events, although it’s uncertain when the business model will launch in the United Kingdom, where a mandatory title fight would presumably take place.

As for the champ’s plans to possibly navigate around such a fight in search of bigger game, the challenger in waiting would be open to the idea but on one condition.

“He can just park the IBF belt at the curb,” quipped a member of Uzcategui’s camp in emphasizing the boxer’s insistence on pursuing his owed title shot. “James DeGale is free to do whatever he wants. But our next fight will be for the world title. We want it to be against the champ; if he wants to remain that way prior to his next fight, it needs to come against us.” 

Jake Donovan is the managing editor of BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox