DeGale unification bid ends in draw

James DeGale's bid to add the WBC super middleweight title belt to his own IBF version ended in failure on Saturday night as his fight with Badou Jack was declared a majority draw.

The Englishman looked set to achieve his goal when he knocked down his opponent in the first round but the Swede came back into the bout and floored DeGale in the final round to snatch a draw.

One of the ringside judges scored the contest 114-112 in favour of DeGale but with the two other judges calling it 113-113, the contest was a majority draw and both fighters hang onto their versions of the title.

2008 Olympic champion DeGale suffered damage to an eardrum during the exciting fight while he also lost a tooth to a fierce uppercut in round eight.

"I thought I'd done enough but it was the knockdown," he told Sky Sports.

"I've had 25 fights, I'm going to get better and I want the rematch.

"I'm glad I'm still the champion and I'm coming home with the title but I'm so upset that I didn't come with the WBC belt.

"The main thing is I didn't lose, I'm still the champion and I can move forward.

While the 30-year-old is keen for a rematch against Jack, the latter's promoter, all-time great Floyd Mayweather, ruled it out while also criticising the result.

"We don't need to figure it [Jack's future plans] out, I'm the promoter this is my fighter," Mayweather said. "Badou Jack has got too big for 168lbs. We have plans after this fight to move up to light-heavyweight.

"This [drawn result] is bad for boxing when it's all said and done, this is really bad for boxing."

Photo: Getty/Al Bello

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