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15th Jan 2017

Controversy reigns in Brooklyn as James DeGale fight ends in majority draw

Both fighters felt they'd done enough to win.

Tom Victor

Fans of British boxer James DeGale believe he should have won last night’s unification bout with Badou Jack, but it wasn’t to be.

DeGale believed he had done enough to win, and one of the judges agreed, scoring the fight 114-112 in his favour, but the other two scored the fight 113-113, meaning his Swedish opponent keeps his WBC super middleweight belt.

But others – not least Jack’s promoter Floyd Mayweather – feels DeGale should have lost.

“This is the second time in a row Badou Jack has got a bad decision,” Mayweather is quoted as saying by Sky Sports.

“James DeGale is a hell of a fighter, but tonight he didn’t win.

“I respect him as a fighter, but Badou Jack was the better man tonight. But James DeGale is one hell of a fighter.”

DeGale felt he’d have won if he wasn’t knocked down in the 12th (photo credit:Al Bello/Getty Images)

The Londoner retains his IBF belt following the draw at the Barclays Center, but is keen on a rematch.

“I’m glad I’m still the champion and I’m coming home with the title but I’m so upset that I didn’t come with the WBC belt,” DeGale is quoted as saying by the BBC.

“The main thing is I didn’t lose, I’m still the champion and I can move forward.”

And the response on Twitter suggested DeGale did himself proud, and while some felt the fight was his, others felt he probably fell short of doing enough to win.

Indeed, there are plenty who sided with Mayweather, expressing their surprise that Jack wasn’t the outright winner.

https://twitter.com/GaryShortall/status/820493044856143872

https://twitter.com/thebezgurn/status/820495817836531712

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