On Saturday, April 30, 2016, the IBF Super Middleweight champion, James “Chunky” DeGale (23-1, 12KOs), defeated Mexican contender, Rogelio “Porky” Medina (36-7, 30 KOs) in the co-main event of Showtime’s Super Middleweight doubleheader that also featured Badou Jack vs. Lucian Bute.
With an almost guaranteed unification bout between the winners of the doubleheader looming, DeGale snatched a unanimous decision victory in less-than-spectacular fashion. DeGale admitted as much in the post-fight presser.
“I’m a bit disappointed,” said DeGale. “I should be taking out people like Porky Medina, no disrespect to him.”
DeGale, who is notorious for starting slowly, allowed Medina to start strong and gain confidence in the early rounds, which set the stage for a fight that got a bit chippy.
Medina got off to a great start, resulting from DeGale allowing Medina to push him to the ropes with combination punching to the midsection and head.
DeGale would sit on the ropes, allowing Medina to hammer away at his shelled up frame throughout the fight.
The third round saw DeGale get overwhelmed early from Medina’s aggression, but DeGale used footwork to give him enough space to land a huge right that stopped Medina in his tracks. DeGale followed that right with some hard hooks to Medina’s body.
The fifth had DeGale start with his back to the ropes, but then he changed the pace and began effectively backing Medina up agianst the ropes. When DeGale decided to use his feet, he landed some vicious lead left uppercuts and hard body shots that seemed to hurt Medina.
DeGale seemed almost cavalier, as he taunted Medina in between rounds, sticking his tongue out at Medina as they walked to their respective corners. Medina was so frustrated at DeGale’s shenanigans that he spit at DeGale at one point in the fight.
“He was head-butting me and I was getting a little frustrated and that’s why I spit on him,” said Medina.
It was clear that DeGale was the more complete fighter of the two. He landed the harder, cleaner punches, but at various times throughout the fight, he’d allow Medina to go to work on him. So much that the fight was a lot closer than it should’ve been.
While Medina had the higher work rate between the two fighters, throwing over 1,100 punches to DeGale’s 641 punches, DeGale was the more accurate fighter, landing 51 percent of his shots to Medina’s very low percentage at 23 percent.
Judges Steve Garby and Tony Paolillo scored the bout decisively with scores of 117-111, while judge John Madfis had it closer at 115-113.
Medina was unhappy with the judges’ decision. He believed he had put forth the better performance, and by the crowd’s reaction, they agreed with Medina.
“In my opinion, and based on the reaction from the audience, everyone saw that I won,” said Medina.
[otw_shortcode_quote border=”bordered” border_style=”bordered”]The judges didn’t vote in my favor, but what can you do? We came and gave the best performance we can possibly give and did the best we could but unfortunately didn’t come out victorious tonight. DeGale said I wasn’t on his level, but I think he’s the one that is not on my level. -Rogelio Medina[/otw_shortcode_quote]
DeGale is quite aware he underwhelmed with his performance against Medina, but he certainly believes that he’s the best at 168.
“I just beat Andre Dirrell and Lucian Bute last year. I’m an elite fighter. I’m the best 168-pound fighter out there,” said DeGale.
Though Medina wants a rematch, it is clear that DeGale wants to unify with Badou Jack in the UK. Jack retained his WBC title against Lucian Bute with a majority draw.
Although Jack doesn’t like to fly, he admitted that for the right price, anything is possible.
Promoters Eddie Hearn and Leonard Ellerbe both believe that this unification fight is a very strong possibility, as long as negotiations go well.
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All photos by Esther Lin/Showtime
