James DeGale got off to a winning start to his bare-knuckle boxing career, but it wasn’t pretty.
The two-time IBF super middleweight champion squared off against Australia’s Matt Floyd at Manchester’s AO Arena on Saturday night under Conor McGregor‘s BKFC promotional banner.
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DeGale, who hadn’t set foot in the ring since falling to defeat against Chris Eubank Jr in February 2019, got his hand raised via unanimous decision following a bad-tempered bout that included four points deductions.
Speaking in the immediate aftermath of his victory, he said: “It’s bare-knuckle boxing, it is boxing, but it’s highly different.
“The holding and punching, it’s crazy. Crazy stuff!
“But do you know what? I’m 1-0 in bare-knuckle and that’s all that matters motherf*****. JD’s second coming.
“He was tough, he was game, but in a boxing fight, he doesn’t last two rounds.”
DeGale, 39, struggled to find his range during a scrappy affair that was fought mostly out of the clinch.
Floyd, who also comes from a professional boxing background, looked to rough DeGale up on the inside and found some early success with short uppercuts; however, his emotions got the better of him.
The Aussie was repeatedly warned for punching after the break and was subsequently deducted two points for headbutting DeGale at the end of the first round.
Floyd’s conduct continued to cost him in round three when he was deducted a third point for punching after the referee called break.
It came after Floyd had stunned DeGale with a right hand in the second stanza, yet his refusal to abide by the rules undid his good work.
BKFCDeGale won his BKFC debut, but is unlikely to compete in the sport again[/caption]As the chaos continued, DeGale was also docked a point for hitting after the break, bringing the total deductions up to four.
Both men managed to make it through the final two rounds without any further penalties, although the fouling did continue.
Floyd struck DeGale on the back of the head multiple times, while the Brit got his adversary in a headlock.
As the pace slowed, DeGale managed to find a home for his backhand as Floyd came lunging in.
His performance left a lot to be desired, but it proved enough for the Olympic gold medallist to get the nod by margins of 48-43, 48-43 and 47-44.
Will James DeGale fight again?
A statement released on DeGale’s social media after the fight declared that he had decided against a future as a bare-knuckle boxer.
However, ‘Chunky’ recently told talkSPORT.com that he is eyeing a crossover boxing bout against either Jake Paul, Darren Till, Ty Mitchell or Tommy Fury.
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