James DeGale on Saturday became the first British fighter to win an Olympic gold medal and a professional world title, unanimously outpointing Andre Dirrell at Boston University’s Agganis Arena to take the vacant International Boxing Federation super middleweight title.
The London boxer improved to 21-1, receiving winning scores of 114-112 from judges Dan Fitzgerald and Howard Foster, and 117-105 from Alan Davis.
Dirrell from Flint, Michigan, dropped to 24-2.
Photo: AP
“I am speechless,” the 2008 Olympic champion DeGale said. “My whole career has been leading up to this, winning a world title. It’s an unbelievable feeling. I made history.”
Cut next to his right eye early in the second round, DeGale floored Dirrell twice in the round. The first time, he landed a right hook, putting Dirrell on his seat. After Dirrell got up, DeGale crowded him and forced him to a knee with a left hand to the body.
In the third, DeGale landed another right hook that forced Dirrell to hold. Dirrell avoided any big shots in the fifth, landing a straight left hand to DeGale’s chin with no effect.
In the final seconds of the sixth, DeGale landed a right hook to the head and a left to the body, causing Dirrell to double over. Earlier in the round, Dirrell was cut on his left cheekbone.
Dirrell landed combinations in the seventh and forced DeGale to take a step back on three occasions after landing straight left hands.
Toward the end of the ninth, both fighters taunted each other after each fought the round defensively They briefly exchanged words after the bell.
Near the end of the 10th Dirrell landed a right to the body while pushing DeGale into the ropes.
Fighting for the first time in the US, 31-year-old DeGale landed 115 of 400 punches. Dirrell connected on 111 of 488.
Dirrell’s only other loss was a split decision against Carl Froch in 2009 in a bid for Froch’s World Boxing Council super middleweight title in Nottingham, England.
FRUSTRATION: Alcaraz made several unforced errors over four sets against Bosnian Damir Dzumhur, who had never made it past the third round in a major competition Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz reached the fourth round of the French Open after laboring past Damir Dzumhur 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 in the Friday night session. The second-seeded Spaniard had never before played Dzumhur, a 33-year-old Bosnian who had never been past the third round at any major tournament. “I suffered quite a lot today,” Alcaraz said. “The first two sets was under control, then he started to play more deeply and more aggressively. It was really difficult for me.” Dzumhur hurt his left knee in a fall in the second round, and had treatment on Friday on his right leg during the
‘DREAM’: The 5-0 victory was PSG’s first Champions League title, and the biggest final win by any team in the 70-year history of the top-flight European competition Paris Saint-Germain won the Champions League for the first time as Luis Enrique’s brilliant young side outclassed Inter on Saturday in the most one-sided final ever with teenager Desire Doue scoring twice in an astonishing 5-0 victory. Doue supplied the pass for Achraf Hakimi to give PSG an early lead and the 19-year-old went from provider to finisher as his deflected shot doubled the advantage in the 20th minute. Doue scored again just after the hour mark, ending any doubt about the outcome before Khvicha Kvaratskhelia ran away to get the fourth and substitute Senny Mayulu, another teenager, made it five. Inter were
The Greek basketball league finals between Panathinaikos and Olympiakos were suspended by the government on Monday following on-court scuffles involving rival security teams. The best-of-five series is at 1-1. The third game, scheduled for today, has been postponed. The owners of both clubs were summoned to meet with the country’s sports minister. They “will be asked to provide explicit guarantees that this situation will be brought to an end. If not, this year’s championship will be definitively canceled,” government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis said. “There can be no tolerance for such pathological phenomena of violence and delinquency.” In online posts, the owners of Panathinaikos and
Defender Steph Catley says her UEFA Women’s Champions League title win with Arsenal last week will act as motivation to secure continental glory with Australia when the country hosts the Women’s Asian Cup next year. Catley and compatriots Caitlin Foord and Kyra Cooney-Cross were part of the Arsenal squad that defeated Barcelona in Lisbon on Sunday last week, before flying to Melbourne to feature in the Matildas’ 2-0 win over Argentina on Friday. The game was the first in a two-match series against the South Americans as the Australians continue preparations for the continental championship in March next year, when they would
RSS