DeGale loses glorious homecoming title fight to Truax
World of Sport Reporter: @worldofsport
James ‘Chunky’ DeGale's glory filled homecoming ended in disaster as he lost his IBF super-middleweight world title to American Caleb Truax on points.
The Londoner was in trouble in the fifth round and although he fought back in the last few rounds, but with a scorecard of 114-114, 115-112, 116-112 in Truax's favour Chunky lost a majority decision.
DeGale was hoping to establish himself as one of the top contenders in the super middleweight division, but it seems now he will have to climb the ladder again.
The 31-year-old was back in action following a serious shoulder injury and he said afterwards it might have been too early to return. Sounds like an excuse to me. Truax was in tears when the scores were read out and although there was no clause for a rematch, DeGale immediately called for one.
The Londoner's started cautiously with Truax taking the centre of the ring, forcing the pace, but the champion looked comfortable in the opening rounds.
Truax began to take control in the middle rounds, and he had DeGale on the ropes a few times, but the Londoner soaked up the shots and was countering well.
Then came the pivotal moment in the fifth. DeGale was pinned in the corner and unable to get out. Truax hit him with a hard uppercut, then a right, another uppercut and a hook to the head. DeGale didn’t go down and survived but it clearly took its toll and raised Truax's already growing confidence.
It took DeGale a couple of rounds to get back into some sort of groove and some smart combinations to Truax’s body showed the IBF champion wasn’t giving his title up easily.
By the eighth round DeGale was now taking the lead but as it entered the last quarter, again he found himself in a corner and again Truax's uppercut landed straight on the chin right in front of the judges.
The 11th round was a slugfest and both fighters really went for it, then perhaps fearing the worst, DeGale went on the attack in the 12th which prompted Truax to do the same as nobody was sure who was winning.
Truax and his team felt they had done enough, and the forever cocky DeGale also felt he had, but it wasn’t to be a glorious return for the Londoner as he now has to start again. He will be hoping Truax is fair game in giving him a rematch, but without putting the clause into the contract, DeGale’s cockiness might have set him back a step too far now.
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