James DeGale Vacates IBF Title

[Ruthless-RKO]

Two-Time IBF World Super-Middleweight Champion James DeGale MBE has today relinquished his title as he closes in on securing big-fights in the final phase of his illustrious ring career.

DeGale was due to be involved in a purse bid for his IBF mandated title defence against Interim Champion Jose Uzcategui this Thursday (5th July), but has now withdrawn.

DeGale said, “No World champion easily gives up their World title that they’ve earned the hard way in the ring and I’ve proudly held the IBF World title in two reigns with pride and distinction which is why it makes it very hard decision to relinquish the belt. It has been a pleasure to work with the IBF and I would like to thank president Daryl Peoples for allowing me to challenge and hold the distinguished belt that so many of the division’s great champions have held before for me. It has been a honour to be recognised as the IBF World Champion and I hope that by now vacating it will ease the transition to determine a successor between the Interim champion Jose Uzcategui and the next highly ranked available contender. I’ve achieved so much in my career, Olympic Gold, British, European and International titles and two-time World Champion and I believe I’m at the top of my game right now. I’m in the final phase of my career where I have a few good years left where I can be involved in massive fights and really leave a legacy in the division’s history. My team have been working very hard behind the scenes and we’ve got some very big and exciting news to announce soon.”

[Ruthless-RKO]

No Jose Uzcategui Fight..

[Ruthless-RKO]

Four reasons why

1) Billy Joe Saunders

2) Chris Eubank Jr

3) George Groves

4) Callum Smith

[SenorPipino]

Knows that he would lose to Uze for relatively little money.

The other names, again fellow Brits, will compensate him nicely even if he probably loses to all.

[Deleted_Scenes]

Knows that he would lose to Uze for relatively little money.

The other names, again fellow Brits, will compensate him nicely even if he probably loses to all.

Even this version of James, still easily outboxes Eubank Jr, in my opinion. Unless Junior has actually hired a trainer and learned some boxing since Groves schooled him, anyway.

[SenorPipino]

I'd still stick with Eubank. I don't think he was quite as clueless as he appeared versus Groves.

And DeGale having all he can handle twice against the limited Truax indicates he's pretty close to the end.

[Enlightened-One]

Four reasons why

1) Billy Joe Saunders

2) Chris Eubank Jr

3) George Groves

4) Callum Smith

Billy Joe Saunders in September at London's O2 Arena, promoted by Queensberry Promotions.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Four reasons why

1) Billy Joe Saunders

2) Chris Eubank Jr

3) George Groves

4) Callum Smith

Billy Joe Saunders in September at London's O2 Arena, promoted by Queensberry Promotions.

I think we all knew, once Uzcategui won the Interim belt, DeGale was bound to vacate.

It’s a shame DeGale can’t be around longer. His title reign wasn’t top. And he did trynto unify once, but just the once. He had too many hard fights, fights he should have won more clearly.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Enlightened-One]

Four reasons why

1) Billy Joe Saunders

2) Chris Eubank Jr

3) George Groves

4) Callum Smith

Billy Joe Saunders in September at London's O2 Arena, promoted by Queensberry Promotions.

I think we all knew, once Uzcategui won the Interim belt, DeGale was bound to vacate.

The Saunders bout has been in the works for more than six months. In fact Queensberry Promotions were negotiating the bout late last year, but their plans were scuppered when DeGale was upset by Caleb Truax (on a Queensberry fight card).

For sure Uzcategui would probably be capable of beating Chunky right now, but even if he wasn't, I strongly suspect that DeGale would still have preferred to have received the big payday to take the Saunders bout instead.

Sometimes the big payday is worth more than the belts. Why lose for pennies when you can lose for big bucks intsead?

[Nightmare Roy]

Save your money for now, the Eubank hype train will go into hyper bowl and you'll get more free money backing Degale

[Boxing101101]

Don't blame him to be honest he is a 2x champ and has been in a unification fight. The Billie joe Saunders fight is a possibility although he did say his financial demands were to high so for now that's likely. I think the most likely option for now is he will fight the winner of Groves vs Smith whilst being a stand in for their fight.

[Evander]

To vacate suggests he was offered a multi fight contract.

[Evander]

Bet he fights George Groves again.

[Ruthless-RKO]

To vacate suggests he was offered a multi fight contract.

Purse bid for DeGale-Uzcategui was supposed to be today. He had no intention in participating so made sense to vacate yesterday.

[Mexi-Box]

Damn, I'm surprised DeGale is the favorite over Eubank Jr. Always thought Eubank Jr. was a hypejob, but no way he loses to this version of DeGale.

DeGale barely beat Truax. Eubank Jr. isn't elite, but he's at least a level above Truax.

Steve Kim tweeted that Caleb Plant is facing Uzcategui. OMG, I hope Uzcategui creams him. Plant's style is so, so boring. It's horrific to watch.

[boxing_rocks]

I think DeGale is done and even Eubank will stop him.

[Boxing101101]

outside option a rematch with Badou

[Cent0089]

People underestimate Eubank after fight with Groves. DOnt think Degale can handle him

[Ruthless-RKO]

Jose Uzcategui's Agent Reacts To James DeGale Vacating Title

“I would like to say James DeGale is a real warrior and a class act! James represented his country in the Olympics, winning a gold medal. He went in search of a world title and won it on the road in Boston. James went on to defend his world title belt numerous times even to the point where he gave up a tooth in the 11th round versus Badou Jack in retaining his world title in that fight,” Gibbons told BS.com.

“Jose would have loved the opportunity to fight James for the full belt but understands boxing is a business and no fighter is afraid of another fighter. James decided to do what was best for him and it was purely a business decision and Jose wishes James the best in the future."

[Evander]

Is DeGale going to fight Eubank Jr ?

[Evander]

Eddie Hearn is supposed to be making some big announcement July 16/17th.

[Ruthless-RKO]

James DeGale hasn’t made a habit of praising Carl Froch. Before Froch retired DeGale was his mandatory challenger, calling for the fight. But DeGale has to admit that Froch retired at the top.

“I think that’s just the way the sport is. He’s done the right thing, didn’t he, really? Look at me, I’m coming to the end of my career now. I just vacated my belt because I had to fight this dangerous Venezuelan [Jose Uzcategui], was going to get little money for it, or there’s opportunity where I can fight in domestic grudge matches and earn very good money. What do I do? And that’s what Carl Froch done. He thought why am I going to fight this young and upcoming, hungry fighter when I’ve just knocked out George Groves? I’ve made 10 mill, I’m gone,” DeGale told Boxing News.

“You’ve got to give Carl Froch credit because he went out on top. What a way to go out.”

DeGale in fact wants to follow that example. “I don’t want to be one of these fighters where boxing retires me. I’m retiring from boxing,” he said. “I’m not one of these fighters that’s going to be in boxing until I’m getting knocked out by fighters that shouldn’t be knocking me out, no way. I’m 32 years of age, I’ve got a couple of years left. I’m still at my peak now.”

He admits he made mistakes last year, coming back from injury too soon and losing his world title to Caleb Truax. “I rushed to get back in the ring,” he says. “Last year was all wrong, last year was a bad year for me.”

That aberration he promises has now been rectified. He won back the IBF super-middleweight title and has now vacated, setting his sights on bigger events.

“Benn and Eubank they had those classics and everyone talks about it to this day. That’s what I need,” DeGale continued. “They’re the fights I want, the domestic grudge matches, that everyone buys into, that everyone wants to see. They’re the ones.”