Britain's James DeGale regained his IBF title with a strong UD win over Caleb Truax in an exciting rematch from their December 2017 bout in the UK.
James DeGale lands a shot against Caleb Truax in their 168-pound title fight. (Stephanie Trapp / SHOWTIME)
James DeGale earned back the IBF Super Middleweight World Championship with a unanimous decision in a rematch with Caleb Truax, taking back the title he lost last December in the near-universal upset of the year.
The 12-round championship affair was scored 117-110 and 114-113 twice. DeGale, who was deducted a point in the 10th for pushing, won the championship rounds - 11 and 12 - on all three judges' scorecards to win the decision.
"Two-time world champion. It feels great," DeGale said. "But full credit to Caleb - he shows he can mix it with the top fighters.
"I'm just happy that I'm a two time world champion and I got my IBF world title back. I'm back, Team Chunky, we're back. Two-and-a-half years I had it and I lost it to Caleb. He embarrassed me, but we're back."
DeGale (24-2-1, 14 KOs) overcame a massive cut from an accidental head butt in the third, which was mistakenly ruled as the result of a punch from referee Robert Byrd.
"I couldn't see from my right eye, DeGale said. "I like Robert Byrd (referee), but today he was a bit wrong. I couldn't see. But I'm just glad I got through it. I showed some heart. In my last fight, I was like a weak little kid."
DeGale connected on 37 percent of his power shots compared to 28 percent for Truax. He now returns to London a world champion with some massive potential fights in the future.
"I want to be busy," DeGale said. "I have a couple years left in this sport."
Truax (29-4-2, 18 KOs), who fought for the first time as a world champion, was disappointed and advocated for a rematch after the scores were announced.
"I thought I did enough to win the fight, but I also thought I was pretty flat and didn't get my shots off like I wanted," Truax said. "I was just a little bit flat. I felt really good coming in but I just couldn't get my shots off like the last fight. He never hurt me, but it is what it is.
"I gave him a rematch straight away so why not do it again."
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- Truax vs DeGale
