by Cliff Rold

Once again a super middleweight unification bout delivered the goods. For the third time in the division’s history, it failed to deliver a winner.

Through twelve compelling rounds, Badou Jack and James DeGale showed guts, fire, and character in pursuit of victory. Jack was down in the first, DeGale in the twelfth, and there was plenty to remember for ten rounds in between.

It’s the sort of fight that had scores among fans and press all over the place. The three that mattered most couldn’t split the difference.

Let’s go the report card.

Grades

Pre-Fight: Speed – DeGale B+; Jack B/Post: Same

Pre-Fight: Power – DeGale B; Jack B/Post: Same

Pre-Fight: Defense – DeGale B; Jack B+/Post: B-; B+ 

Pre-Fight: Intangibles – DeGale B+; Jack B+/Post: A; A

From this corner Jack appeared to have done enough to win even before his dramatic finish. DeGale, the quicker and more athletic of the two, got off to a strong start. His knockdown in the first didn’t really hurt Jack but it was a nice piece of timing, landing inside the jab of Jack. Starting in the third round, Jack’s physical and steady approach started to pay dividends.

Go back and watch the action, looking for clean shots. Punch stats can often be a bad measure but they support the idea that it was Jack scoring better for rounds three through twelve. The score here was eight rounds to four, or 115-111, but this isn’t a fight where it’s hard to see how DeGale kept it close.

Jack has the sort of style that can be underappreciated in real time. His defense is excellent but subtle. He picks off shots with the gloves, arms, and shoulders, keeping himself in range to return fire. It’s a compact style that lends itself to good-looking fights.

Against a fighter who explodes in combination like DeGale, it’s also a style that can make an opponent look like they are doing more than they are. DeGale wasn’t really landing, but he was throwing with authority. Jack was digging away a shot or two at a time.

The cumulative effect, the real winner of the raw fight, was evident at the end. DeGale was bruised, missing a tooth, and increasingly weary as the fight wore on. To his great credit, DeGale came off the floor and was fighting like mad in the final minute. His courage in the ring can’t be questioned.

His technique, after the last three fights, can be. DeGale looked like he might be hitting another level in his game in a title win against Andre Dirrell. In three defenses since, he’s just been getting hit in serious battles. Dirrell, always a boxer first, didn’t exploit DeGale’s defensive weaknesses. Lucian Bute, Rogelio Medina, and now Jack have found him consistently. Jack did better than the other two because he is better than the other two.

Unfortunately for Jack, his lack of power works against him in general and may have Saturday. He’s settled for two wins and two draws in four title fights; neither of the wins was unanimous though they should have been. His professionalism and fundamental soundness makes him a bear to deal with for twelve rounds but doesn’t produce enough in terms of captivating, round sealing moments. It was at least enough to score a knockdown that saved him from defeat against DeGale.

For now, it sounds like a rematch is a non-starter. Jack claims he can no longer keep boiling down to 175 lbs. and could find himself in line for a shot at lineal and WBC light heavyweight titlist Adonis Stevenson. DeGale sounded ready to go for a sequel but may have to look home for his next rival. That isn’t a bad thing. Callum Smith could emerge as a well paying foe and a rematch with George Groves will sell whenever it inevitably emerges.

If 2017 is going to wash away the apathy of 2016, this was as good a start as we could have asked for.      

Report Card and Staff Picks 2017: 0-1

Cliff Rold is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene, a founding member of the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board, and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America.  He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com