The Londoner defends his IBF super-middleweight belt on Bute’s home turf, live on Sky Sports, in his first fight since outpointing Andre Dirrell to claim the vacant title in May.
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DeGale won a unanimous decision on scores of 116-112, 117-111, and 117-111. DeGale appeared to lost the last five rounds of the fight. I did my best tonight, and I think it was a close fight.
Bute had the home crowd on his side throughout, but he also earned some respect for a display of sportsmanship – which is rare in boxing – in the 11th round when he stepped back and stop throwing punches to allow DeGale to retrieve his mouthguard which had popped out. “It was close”, said Bute. “But like I said before, I’m young, I’m fresh, and I’m peaking now”. “I’m just getting better”. “I’m just ready to become world champion again”.
“Let’s do it. Let’s unify the title”, he said.
With blood flowing from the cut, DeGale went toe-to-toe with Bute in the 12th and final round as the crowd stood and roared at the recently-opened Centre Videotron arena.
“I know people might say I shouldn’t have taken this fight, but I needed this fight in between as a tune-up for my next fight”, Imam said.
“I’m an old school fighter – I don’t mind travelling to fight in my opponents’ hometown”, DeGale said. “I’ll get back in the gym and continue to work”.
The ebb and flow of the fight continued with Bute, a native of Romania who fights out of Quebec, becoming the aggressor in the middle rounds and attacking the body. He proved that he’s not over the hill like many boxing fans had though he was going into this fight.
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The co-main event features light heavyweights Isaac Chilemba and Eleider Alvarez locking horns in a WBC title eliminator over 12 rounds. One ringside judge had it 114-114 while the others scored it 118-110 and 115-113 for Alvarez.
