James DeGale vs Chris Eubank Jr result: Junior knocks DeGale down twice en route to one-sided win
Chris Eubank Jr has left James DeGale facing retirement after securing the finest victory of his career via a unanimous decision in their IBO super middleweight title match in London.
He had previously lost his two biggest fights, against Billy Joe Saunders and George Groves, but improved sufficiently to win an occasion DeGale said would force the loser to retire.
At 29 and with so high a profile there was little risk of that for Eubank Jr, but after his third defeat and a career in which he became the first British Olympic gold medallist to win a world title DeGale - the loser by scores of 114-112, 115-112 and 117-109 - has been left with few lucrative options to pursue.
Welcome to The Independent's live coverage of James DeGale vs Chris Eubank as the two Brits settle their longstanding grudge at the 02 Arena. We'll have all the build-up, undercard action and more throughout the night.
It's been over 10 years since James DeGale won the Olympic gold medal in Beijing. Tonight, he's looking to add the final jewel to the crown of his career: a domestic grudge win.
Lee Selby returns to the ring nine months on after losing his IBF featherweight world title to Josh Warrington in a grueling fight at Elland Road. He spoke to The Independent about triumph, tragedy and his second coming ahead of his fight with Omar Douglas.
Chris Eubank Jr has teamed up with a new trainer for this fight in Nate Vasquez, as Senior's influence over his son appears to be in decline. Declan Taylor spoke to 'English' at the Eubank gym in Brighton.
The bookies have found the pair almost impossible to split, with Chris Eubank Jr the narrowest of favourites. Consensus says it's either DeGale on points or Eubank by late KO.
Eubank's own chief sparring partner for the fight, Denis Douglin, insists DeGale's pedigree will be too much.
This fight has been four or five years in the making and it’s going to be a painful lesson for him. I’ve been training for years to beat him and I know everything about him. James talks retirement, but that has never even come into my mind. I hope he can bring the best he can bring on the night and give the fans the most exciting and explosive fight that we possibly can. I just don’t think he has what it takes.
When he first turned professional he was calling me out, he’s very deluded. On 23 February I get my chance to deal with this guy good and proper and finish him. After Eubank has lost to me I don’t know where he is going to go. I’m calling this the retirement fight and whoever loses can knock it on the head, it’s game over. He’s got heart and big set of balls but that’s not going to be enough to beat me.
A tight round that's hard to split but could be edged to the American. Selby is landing clean punches but they're having little effect to deter Douglas from coming forward.
A nasty cut has opened up above the eye of Lee Selby! It's in exactly same place he sustained the injury against Josh Warrington and he's in trouble. Douglas, enlivened by the blood, continues to throw himself forward and that's another round to the American.
