On May 23, 2015 Andre Dirrell fought James DeGale at Agganis Arena, Boston, Massachusetts, USA for the vacant IBF World super middleweight title
Fight Highlights: Dirrell down twice in round two
James DeGale; the first British gold medalist to win a world championship
In the early hours of Sunday morning, DeGale managed to cement his place in the history of boxing as the first British Gold medalist to win a world championship. The spectacular fight was marked by Dirrel failing to withstand DeGales combination of punches and going down two times. DeGale won by an unanimous decision from the judges of 114-112,117-109,114-112
The fight had a slow start, as the two fighters began by feeling each other out. The two Southpaw flicked jab after jab at the center of the ring. Dirrel looked much composed at the start of the fight, landing a sharp counter upper cut on DeGale who looked a bit stiff. Momentum picked at the second on the second, round, DeGale now looked cormfortable in the ring. Exbiting excellent foot work and punching skill. It was in this round that we saw the American going down to times, the first time in his while career! DeGale went ahead to finish Dirrel with punch after punch, only the former to be saved by the sound of the bell.
The first three rounds of the fight were controlled by the fast DeGale, he was seeing dancing around the ring. On the 3rd round however, Dirrel seemed to be closing back, he controlled the fight while DeGale was moving around the ring looking for a knockout. Dirrel was soon pushed to the corner by DeGale with a flurry of punches, though he seemed to be the one controlling the third round, DeGale stool it back with a deadly combination of punches that so the American pushed to the corner of the ring.
From this point on wards, Dirrel seemed fit enough to win the fight, landing punch after punch, pushing DeGale hard against the ring. DeGale seemed to be looking for a knockout, but Dirrel could not allow that. In the forthcoming quarters, the fight was very tight. Non of the fighters wanting to give the other the upper hard. They brawled mercilessly but DeGale started getting exhausted,something Dirrel took as an advantage, quickening the pace of the fight.
Though the fight was very tight, DeGale managed to win by a judges decision, managing to outdo the more composed Dirrel to go down in the history of boxing history as the only British fight to win a world championship.
When asked the secret which he used to beat the more skilled Dirrel, DeGale attributed his win to excellent foot work and speed. He said that he is on top form after recovering from his injury and ready to take on any world champion who was stupid enough to go up against him.
