BOSTON — Championship boxing returns to Boston on Saturday when American fighter and 2004 Olympic bronze medalist Andre Dirrell steps into the ring to take on 2008 Olympic gold medalist James DeGale of Great Britain with the world super middleweight title on the line.
Both of these men bring sparking records into Boston University’s Agganis Arena: Dirrell is 24-1 with 16 knockouts, while DeGale is 20-1 with 14 knockouts.
DeGale has not lost since May 2011 and owns a 10-bout win streak. His last fight was against Marco Antonio Periban on Nov. 22, 2014, in Liverpool. DeGale prevailed by TKO in the third round, which has given him plenty of confidence entering Saturday’s championship bout.
“I’m here on a mission on Saturday, and that’s to become the first Olympic gold medalist from Great Britain to win a world title, a genuine world title,” DeGale said Thursday during a press conference at Fenway Park.
“I’m up against it, against Andre Dirrell. A very good fighter, comes from a good pedigree. Quick, fast, but at the end of the day, I’m better. I’m going to win this world title on Saturday for Great Britain, and for myself, obviously.”
Dirrell, who won his previous fight over Derek Edwards by unanimous decision in December, believes this fight will be a “performance of a lifetime” with a world championship on the line.
“I want to exclude the IBF world title. I want to set it aside for a second,” Dirrell said. “(DeGale) right here, he believes he’s an undefeated fighter. One loss on his record, he doesn’t believe belongs. And I as well, one loss on my record I don’t believe belongs. He’s an Olympic medalist, I’m an Olympic medalist.
“And we both believe in our talent 110 percent. That drive along, and with our skill, that’s a world title in itself. I don’t need the belt for you guys to know that. He doesn’t need the belt for you guys to know that. This is a world championship fight.”
Unlike the last major boxing fight between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, Saturday’s bout promises to be an entertaining affair with both men not afraid to go for the knockout.
“This is a great fight. I think it’s unusual to find a fight in a division with two skilled fighters like James DeGale and Andre Dirrell,” said Eddie Hearn, a promoter for Matchroom Boxing. “People talk about this fight being a chess match and a match of strategy. I disagree. I think you’re going to see a brutal fight on Saturday night, because it means a lot to them.”
Thumbnail photo via Twitter/@MatchroomBoxing
