{"id":60077,"date":"2016-05-01T17:17:07","date_gmt":"2016-05-01T22:17:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/?p=60077"},"modified":"2016-05-01T17:17:38","modified_gmt":"2016-05-01T22:17:38","slug":"badou-jack-lucien-bute-fight-to-a-draw-james-degale-wins-a-controversial-decision-over-rogelio-medina-breaking-boxing-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/?p=60077","title":{"rendered":"Badou Jack – Lucien Bute Fight to a Draw & James DeGale Wins a Controversial Decision Over Rogelio Medina – Breaking Boxing News"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Badou<\/a>Badou Jack retained his WBC Super Middleweight title in a controversial draw against Lucian Bute Saturday on SHOWTIME, setting up a fall unification with IBF champion James DeGale, who defended his IBF crown against Rogelio Medina in the opening bout of the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast from the DC Armory.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s unify the decision and see who the best is,\u201d DeGale said to Jack in a post-fight interview moderated by SHOWTIME Sports reporter Jim Gray.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m ready in September, ready in August,\u201d responded Jack. \u201cI\u2019m ready whenever. Let\u2019s do it where it makes the most sense financially.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack was the sharper fighter from the opening bell, committing to pounding the body of the former long-time titlist. Facing his second southpaw, Jack prevented Bute from fighting his game, smothering the Romania-born Canadian whenever he attempted to fight on the inside.<\/p>\n

While Jack varied his punches with a diverse attack to the body and head, he slowed in the latter rounds and allowed Bute to climb his way back into the fight. Bute had perhaps his best round in the 10th and closed the show well, in the 11th and 12th. But it was too little too late for Bute, who escaped D.C. with what most felt was an undeserved draw.<\/p>\n

\u201cBullshit, but is what it is. Ask Bute as well, he knows what time it is,\u201d said Jack, who landed nearly 100 more punches than Bute, including 61 percent of his power punches, and 40 percent total of his total shots. \u201cHis punches weren\u2019t hurting me. I feel I won the fight. Maybe I lost the last round. He\u2019s a great guy and a great champion, but I know I won the fight.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not Bute\u2019s fault, it\u2019s the judges. People saw I won the fight.\u201d<\/p>\n

The 36-year-old Bute certainly looked like a fighter with plenty left in the tank, rejuvenated under trainer Howard Grant with his sights set on the new crop of stars in the super middleweight division.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a close fight,\u201d said Bute, who connected at just a 21 percent rate with his total punches. \u201cBelieve me, it was very close fight. My last fight with DeGale was very close, tonight was a very close fight. I showed everyone I\u2019m still at the top.\u201d<\/p>\n

James DeGale defended his IBF Super Middleweight World Championship with a close, hard-fought unanimous decision against in the opening bout of the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast.<\/p>\n

DeGale was supremely accurate, landing 51 percent of his power punches compared to just 23 for Medina, including a staggering 66 percent of his power punches. The switch-hitting southpaw attacked from unorthodox angles, and was most effective when he snuck in a right uppercut to back up Medina. But the British titlist \u2013 a record 12th from Great Britain \u2013 failed to utilize his jab and was not able to deliver on his prediction of a knockout inside of six rounds.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe boxing skills are too good,\u201d DeGale said. \u201cIf I\u2019m being honest, he\u2019s a very strong fighter, but skills pay the bills. I watched this guy years ago and he didn\u2019t have the engine like that. He\u2019s gotten better and stronger in the last year and a half.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m a bit disappointed \u2013 I should be taking out people like Porky Medina, no disrespect to him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m always learning in the gym. My inside work, my defense, my concentration. I\u2019m going to go back to the gym, I\u2019m going to work and I\u2019ll be ready in September.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want Badou Jack. I want a fresh name on my record.\u201d<\/p>\n

Medina, on the other hand, nearly doubled DeGale, throwing 1,140 total punches, compared to 612 in the best performance of his career, but not enough to dethrone the champion. The Mexican challenger pounded the body and was at his best with DeGale against the ropes, striking the British champion with a killer left hook to the body.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe said he was going to stop me. He was running all around and he didn\u2019t stop me like he said he would,\u201d said Medina, who\u2019s seven losses have come against fighters with a combined record of 131-2-2. \u201cHe\u2019s the only one who thinks he won. The fans think I won. I definitely want the rematch.\u201d<\/p>\n