The
winner of Saturday's title unification fight between Badou Jack and James
DeGale will emerge as the consensus number-one super middleweight in boxing.
And although that honor will be fully deserved and disputed only by those who are
related to Gilberto Ramirez, it's still nevertheless surprising that Jack and
DeGale, after facing significant setbacks in their respective roads to the top,
find themselves in this position.
Less than two years ago, Jack was iced in one round by journeyman
Derek Edwards. It was a devastating knockout and further confirmation for many
that Jack was less than the considerable Mayweather Promotions' hype. With an
earlier draw to gatekeeper Marco Antonio Periban, Jack was now considered by
most in the boxing world as nothing more than a pretender.
However, in another example of boxing being the theater of the
unexpected, Jack refused to follow his script. He did something rarely seen in
modern boxing after such a comprehensive physical and psychological defeat; he
improved. Under trainer Eddie Mustafa Muhammad's tutelage, Jack corrected many
of his flaws. His high guard was now a consistent presence and he learned how to
initiate offense out of that posture. Gone were the days of winging shots
without any concern for what was coming back. Now, Jack was working behind his
jab. Instead of being an undisciplined slugger, Jack concentrated on work rate,
textbook technique and winning rounds.
Within 14 months of the Edwards defeat, Jack had successfully won
his first title off of Anthony Dirrell, a fighter who had advantages over Jack
in power and speed, but lacked Jack's new-found focus and discipline. In a
further advance, Jack defeated George Groves later in 2015. Groves had matched
super middleweight titan Carl Froch throughout most of their two fights before
stoppage losses. And even after earning a surprising knockdown of Groves in the
first round, Jack stuck to his game plan and didn't let the unforeseen
development derail his overriding strategy (something that might have caused
Groves to lose the first Froch fight).
Jack has now become a difficult fighter to defeat. He gives his
opponents very few clean shots at his head. He has a piston-like jab that can
often control the ring action and keep opponents on the defensive. Jack has
also become a menacing body puncher, launching jabs, left hooks and right
hands downstairs with regularity and ferocity. Although he doesn't sell out on head shots like he did as a rising prospect, he still has enough pop to
keep foes honest.
However, Jack does provide opportunities for his opponents. His
offense, especially in how he initiates it, can become predictable; he can be timed
and countered. In addition, he lacks elite foot and hand speed. Gifted athletes
can maneuver him around the ring and beat him to the punch. Perhaps most
damningly, Jack doesn't maintain his work rate throughout 12 rounds. It's not
that he fades in the second half but he'll give up a round here or there as he
takes small breaks and regroups. Notice that in his title shot and two
defenses, he's yet to earn a decisive win. Sure, he's beaten good opponents (his
"draw" against Bute was really a win) but he lets them stick around and get back into a fight.
When examining James DeGale in the ring, he emerges with a similar problem.
He can dazzle and amaze for portions of a fight – throwing eight- or nine-punch
combinations, scoring at will with either hand, out of southpaw or orthodox
stances – but he coasts on his leads. At points during bouts, he'll
flurry once or twice a round and then shut his offense down, believing (often
erroneously) that his work is enough to carry the frame.
DeGale had both Andre Dirrell and Lucian Bute dead-to-rights early
in those contests but he couldn't sustain his energy level for 12 rounds. He
wound up winning competitive decisions in those fights but with a different
temperament, perhaps he wouldn't have needed to sweat out the judges'
scorecards.
DeGale's lone blemish on his record could be attributed to this
frustrating inconsistency. His 2011 fight against fellow prospect George Groves
(you'll notice that Jack and DeGale have several common opponents) ended in a
razor-thin defeat. In significant portions of the fight, he just didn't move
his hands enough. During exchanges, DeGale had the faster hands and better
defense but Groves had a more consistent attack.
Although the Groves loss wasn't the type of devastating knockout
that Jack suffered, it was still quite the blow. DeGale was the Olympic gold
medalist, the pride of Britain. Groves was supposed to be the lesser
talent. Yes, DeGale certainly had a claim to winning the fight but the larger
truth had been that too many rounds were close.
And whichever way that one scored DeGale-Groves, neither fighter
won conclusively. However good DeGale thought that he was, the outcome of the
Groves fight was certainly a wake-up call that his road to the top would not be
a cakewalk. "James DeGale,
Olympic Gold Medalist" wasn't enough of a deterrent for able fighters.
But would DeGale learn from his defeat or would he succumb to the
type of denial that is so rampant among professional boxers (e.g., with
different judges I would have won)?
Even after the Groves loss, DeGale could be maddening in the ring.
He'd carry lesser fighters for several rounds or become overly defensive
against opponents who posed little threat. He seemed uncertain at points and
his ring identity was always in flux. Was he a mover, a counterpuncher, an
aggressive fighter or a boxer-puncher? He had employed these styles and others
in his development but often without fluidity or purpose.
To my eyes, DeGale turned the corner in 2014, when he destroyed
Brandon Gonzales in four rounds and defeated Marco Antonio Periban in three. No
longer was he plagued by caution. He seemed more comfortable in
the pocket and wasn't as afraid to get hit. He sat down on his shots better and
learned how to finish off fighters (DeGale could use a refresher course on this
last point).
All of this sets up a mouth-watering main event on Saturday
between two excellent but vulnerable fighters. Which boxer will keep his foot
on the gas for 12 rounds? Who will take fewer breaks? Will Jack's jab be as
effective against a southpaw, and one who doesn't need to be in the pocket to
win fights? Can DeGale handle Jack's pressure over the course of a fight? How
will he overcome Jack's size and range?
An interesting aspect of Saturday's fight is the change in Jack's
corner. Eddie Mustafa Muhammad has been replaced as lead trainer and Lou Del
Valle (who had been assisting Jack and Muhammad in previous fights) will now be
at the helm. Perhaps this transition will go smoothly, like when Naazim
Richardson took over for his former mentor, Bouie Fisher, in Bernard Hopkins'
corner. However, it's also possible that Muhammad's corner work, especially his
cogent instructions, will be missed.
In DeGale's corner is longtime trainer Jim McDonnell. The two of
them have been through the wars together. Exhibiting a loyalty often not
displayed in the sport, DeGale remained with McDonnell after the Groves loss.
Together, trainer and fighter have grown. Although McDonnell can still be
flummoxed by DeGale's inconsistency in the ring, he certainly can impart
urgency when needed. McDonnell has become solid in crafting game plans and he's
quick to note in the corner what's working and what should be de-emphasized.
Ultimately, Jack-DeGale may come down to what the judges like more; Jack's steady work rate or DeGale's flash. And it's certainly possible that Saturday's verdict might be inconclusive. But let's not dwell on the vagaries of scoring for now. Jack-DeGale is an excellent fight between two boxers who dismissed the modern boxing narrative of the loss-as-death sentence. Each has persevered. They have earned their place in the sport with a refreshing approach; they improved and made the most of a second chance. After suffering losses, they put their ego in check and eventually became better fighters. When doubts about them in the boxing world were legion, they ignored the surrounding negativity and believed in themselves even as others were abandoning ship. Each has prospered.
Ultimately, Jack-DeGale may come down to what the judges like more; Jack's steady work rate or DeGale's flash. And it's certainly possible that Saturday's verdict might be inconclusive. But let's not dwell on the vagaries of scoring for now. Jack-DeGale is an excellent fight between two boxers who dismissed the modern boxing narrative of the loss-as-death sentence. Each has persevered. They have earned their place in the sport with a refreshing approach; they improved and made the most of a second chance. After suffering losses, they put their ego in check and eventually became better fighters. When doubts about them in the boxing world were legion, they ignored the surrounding negativity and believed in themselves even as others were abandoning ship. Each has prospered.
Adam Abramowitz is the head writer and founder of saturdaynightboxing.com.
He is also a member of the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board.
@snboxing on twitter
@snboxing on twitter
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Contact Adam at:
saturdaynightboxing@hotmail.com
Contact Adam at:
saturdaynightboxing@hotmail.com
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