In Quebec City, Canada in front of a raucous crowd of over 10,000 James DeGale defended his IBF super middleweight title for the first time against former IBF champion Lucian Bute. James DeGale (22-1) defeated Lucian Bute (32-3) by unanimous decision with scores of 116-112 and 117-111 twice.
DeGale came out fast in the first round, very aggressively throwing combinations to the head and body of Bute. Bute came back with some left hands to back DeGale up. The Brit seemed unfazed and continued to go inside on Bute and throw combinations.
The second round was again fought in a fast pace with both men trading power punches. Bute seemed to hurt DeGale with a body shot early in the round as the London man stopped throwing after he was hit. Afterwards DeGale regained control and got inside to land more combinations on Bute. The precise punches to the head and body of Bute swayed the round in Degale’s favor.
The body punches and the change in stances were working wonderfully in the third round for DeGale. Bute would comeback with body punches of his own, but he was constantly overwhelmed by DeGale’s offense. Bute was looking better than he had in his last few fights, but so was DeGale .
The fourth round was Bute’s best round up until this point as DeGale’s work rate slowed down. Bute landed left hands to the body and the head, much to the crowd’s delight. DeGale suffered a cut on the left eye in the round. Bute gained some confidence from the fourth round and was the aggressor throughout the fifth round. DeGale’s cut over his left eye may have been bothering him as he backed up the whole round and dropped his work rate down to throwing single pot shots. Another good round for Bute.
The sixth round saw DeGale get back on track by staying on the outside longer and picking his spots to throw punches on the outside. DeGale threw creative combinations that froze Bute and stopped him from attempting to counter.
The seventh was similar to the sixth with DeGale boxing on the back foot. DeGale landed some great right hands on Bute and then stepped around to avoid any punches coming back from Bute.
Another display of combination punching was put on by DeGale in the eighth round. DeGale had target practice with Bute in the round with his right hand. The crowd kept going crazy every time Bute threw or landed a punch. There were more clean punches landed by DeGale by the end of the round. Bute pulled out another round in the ninth as he brought out some more intensity in pursuing Degale. He cornered Degale against the ropes and landed some great straight left hands. While the round may have gone to Bute, the body work that Degale displayed in the round was masterful as he threw in combination and stepped to the outside to avoid any incoming punches from Bute.
DeGale was warned for pushing off with his elbow in the tenth round. It was one of the closer rounds in the bout that could have gone to either fighter. Bute was the aggressor throught the round, but DeGale landed some great combinations that froze Bute anytime Degale went to the body.
An all action eleventh round by both fighters took place where DeGale had the advantage throughout the round, but Bute landed a body shot that hurt DeGale and caused him to back up against the ropes to have Bute unload on him.
The final round followed the same pace as the 11th round with both men trading power punches. The crowd would get loud anytime Bute landed and DeGale would come right back to land another huge punch on Bute.
Both men proved their point in the fight. Bute proved that he had more left than what anyone would have believed. DeGale showed that he can engage in an entertaining fight while on the road.
DeGale in his post fight was met with boos from the crowd. Jim Gray from Showtime asked DeGale if the bout was tougher than he anticipated,
“I said to you before that he’s a world class fighter. I knew that. Like I said before I’m young, I’m fresh, I’m peaking now. I’m ready for the best in the world, but all credit to Lucian Bute. He is a great champion and please believe me he will be back,” said DeGale in response.
Gray followed up asking if the fight would have been different if Bute was a bit younger – “ Yeah you could see his punches. I think my defense was alright. You could see me roll with his punches. Roll and dipping. We’re gonna work on things in the gym. Like I said I’m getting better. I’m peaking. The next three or four years that’s when I’ll be at my best.”
Gray asked DeGale what he thought about fighting WBC Super Middleweight champion, Badou Jack next.
“April next year, let’s do it. Let’s unify the titles. WBC, IBF. Let’s unify, “ DeGale responded.
Gray then went over to speak with Lucian Bute and what he thought of his performance tonight,
“I think it was a great fight. I did my best tonight. I think the fight was a close fight. He’s an Olympic champion, a world champion. If the judges gave him the decision, I respect that. I will go back to the gym and continue to work hard”
Bute expressed that he would also like to continue to fight:
“Of course, it was a very close fight. The people were happy and I’m happy with my performance tonight. Like I said, I will be back in the gym to return to the ring one more time”.
The main card on Showtime started off with a bout between two light heavyweight contenders, Isaac Chilemba (24-3-2) and Eleider Alvarez (19-0). The winner would get a shot at WBC champion, Adonis Stevenson.
Eleider was given a majority decision victory to stay undefeated with scorecards of 114-114, 118-110 and 115-113.
After a fast start to the first round by Alvarez, both men decided to box from the outside and trade jabs. Both fighters are counter punchers and Alvarez seemed to take the lead enough in the first to win the round.
The difference in hand speed was apparent in the second and third rounds. Chilemba seemed reluctant to throw and thus was content to let Alvarez to get off first.
Chilemba began to open up a bit more in the fourth round. Chilemba’s work rate increased, but the amount of clean punches landed was low. Alvarez was able to pick his spots and land a right hand that shook up Chilemba in the round as well.
The fifth round was very close round. Chilemba was backing up Alvarez throughout the round while Alvarez counter punched. Chilemba was able to land some punches while Alvarez was on the ropes. A check hook counter landed for Chilemba when Alvarez threw a combination. Chilemba was caught waiting too much on Alvarez.
Alvarez continued to move and throw in combinations in the sixth round. Chilemba was coming forward, but Alvarez was landing punches in combination. Chilemba kept coming forward and being the aggressor to possibly take the round.
The momentum was beginning to swing a bit in the favor of Chilemba in the seventh round. Chilemba was now the more active boxer. Alvarez was being reduced to throwing only a couple of combinations in the round. He needed to be more active.
Both fighters went at each other in the eighth round. They exchanged power punch combinations in the center of the ring. Alvarez was a lot more active in the round, but was hit with a couple of good right hands by Chilemba. Alvarez’s combinations flashier in the round as he mixed them up with hooks, uppercuts and body shots. Alvarez likely won the eighth round.
The ninth round showed the fatigue in both men. They were both a bit sloppy in the round. Alvarez threw combinations, however, unlike in previous rounds the punches didn’t land cleanly. Chilemba threw less in the round, but with his jab and counter right hands he seemed to do enough to win the round.
Each of the final three rounds could have gone to either fighter depending on what you liked better. Alvarez continued to throw punches in combination while Chilmeba picked his spots to land some clean counter right hands. Alvarez’s combinations may have given him the advantage in most rounds especially those that were close. There were many swing rounds in the bout that could have easily gone to Chilemba.
Alvarez in the post fight interview with Showtime’s Jim Gray said, “He has the right team, it’s exactly what happened he won this fight.
Gray asked Alvarez if he was given a favorable decision since he was in his hometown of Quebec to which Alvarez responded, “I lost only two rounds so I won this fight. “
When asked about fighting Adonis Stevenson now that he is the mandatory for the WBC title, Alvarez said, “ I predict a tough fight because when you’re the champion you’re the champion, but it would be a great fight.”
BehindtheGloves scored the bout 117-111 for Alvarez.
– Hector Franco / @MrHector_Franco
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