Britain’s James DeGale remains open to returning to professional boxing having decided against a future as a bare-knuckle fighter.
On Saturday night in Manchester, England, at the age of 39 and over six years after he retired from boxing, DeGale – an Olympic gold medallist and former IBF super-middleweight champion – earned a unanimous decision over Australia’s Matt Floyd in the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship.
Floyd, 36, was deducted three points for his roughhouse tactics throughout the course of the five two-minute rounds they shared at the AO Arena. DeGale was also deducted a point.
On Sunday morning he confirmed that he had no interest in another bare-knuckle contest, but he regardless appeared to refuse to rule out boxing in a professional ring again.
“Thank you all so much for the support for James,” read the statement released on DeGale’s behalf. “He got the win but came out battered and bruised after a brutal fight with some dirty tactics.
“The Manchester crowd’s energy was incredible and gave him a real lift. BKFC ran a great event and we respect them, but bare-knuckle isn’t for him. Boxing’s discipline and respect will always be his standard.”
