Photo by Suzanne Teresa/Premier Boxing Champions
For the fans out there that want to see a real boxing match, this fight is for you. This Saturday’s Premier Boxing Champions card features Andre “The Resurrected” Dirrell vs. James “Chunky” DeGale, as they compete for the vacant IBF Super Middleweight title.
Titles have become a bit like the college degrees of boxing: you have to work tirelessly to get them; we don’t really know what each title stands for or the weight it carries (and there are a lot out there), but it sure sounds good to say you’ve got one.
Winning a title means a great deal to Dirrell and DeGale. DeGale wants to make history as the first British boxer to win Olympic gold and a pro world title. Dirrell needs this title to give himself a boost of momentum to the comeback he’s been making since the ill-fated Arthur Abraham fight. After being hit while down by Abraham, many thought Dirrell might never fight again; he withdrew from the Super Six tournament due to resulting neurological issues. Now Dirrell is tasked with one of the most challenging situations a fighter can experience—learning to face yourself in the ring.
If you don’t know much about DeGale, know this: He’s a talented super middleweight from London who is a mirror of Dirrell’s slick, southpaw fighting style.
Expect DeGale to turn things up slightly more than Dirrell; he can box, but he has the kind of grit that makes him unafraid to get his hands dirty. It will be interesting to see how Dirrell (who has an equally slick style and a Houdini-like ability to switch stances) handles the British powerhouse.
DeGale has the “it” factor that will make this fight exciting for boxing enthusiasts and bring a little something-something for the action-enthused fan.
Tale of the Tape
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Andre Dirrell and James DeGale are similar stylistically, and the tape confirms that they are also similar physically and in their career accomplishments. Both fighters are about the same height, with DeGale having just a half-inch height advantage. The two likely have similar reaches, in addition to a comparable number of rounds boxed and knockout percentage.
The tape confirms Dirrell and DeGale are more alike than they may realize. This fight will be challenging for both of them because again, they are basically fighting themselves. A factor that is harder to see (but is equally important) is their differences.
Though the tape lists Dirrell’s stance as southpaw, he frequently switches between that and the orthodox stance. This adds an interesting variable to how the fight will play out; we’ll have to see how Dirrell adjusts in these stances and how DeGale adjusts to Dirrell.
Main Storylines
Photo by Suzanne Teresa/Premier Boxing Champions
James Degale wants you to know the British are coming. “I’m obsessed with making history,” he said during a fight week press conference. “[Dirrell is] tricky, talented and confident but I’m doing it for my country.” He wants to be the first British boxer to win an Olympic gold medal and a pro world title. He believes no one, including Andre Dirrell, can stand in his way.
Dirrell however, isn’t taking his shot at another title fight for granted, and he appears to want it just as bad as DeGale: “I’m much hungrier than I was early in my career and I’m more focused mentally. With age comes wisdom. Everything I went through is all a blessing.” It’s a bit of a relief to hear Dirrell say those words after the obstacles he’s had to overcome, and his mental grit being questioned.
Both fighters have had slick verbal jabs toward each other, and even Dirrell’s brother Anthony had a word or two for the British boxer. The two got into a heated exchange during DeGale’s media day workout.
Call it defending his brother’s honor, or blood being thicker than water, but Anthony isn’t the only Dirrell who wants to see DeGale lose. Andre Dirrell feels that now more than ever, is his time to shine. He knows what this victory will mean to him.
[otw_shortcode_quote border=”bordered” border_style=”bordered”]I visualized the first time [against Froch] what I would do. I imagined it would feel just like getting a medal. I wasn’t that excited because it was a bronze, but I made my grandfather proud and that was important to me. That’s what I aimed to do. Every fight that’s over, you get that sigh of relief. It’s like, I did it, I got another victory, and I could move forward in my career to see what’s next. It will be the same exact scenario [on Saturday] except that I’ll be holding up a world title and it will be more significant to people.[/otw_shortcode_quote]
There’s a lot on the line for Dirrell and DeGale personally and professionally. It gives the fight the competitive edge it needs, and it gives each man something for which he can fight. This is a huge opportunity for Dirrell to make the most of the second chance he’s been given in the sport. It’s also a grand opportunity for DeGale to take that moment away from him.
Strengths For Each Man
Andre Dirrell
Photo by Tom Casino
Andre Dirrell can box well period, but especially on the outside. He has a quick, sometimes stiff jab, and his arm reach helps him land it without placing himself too near the line of fire. In addition to hand speed, his defense aids in his efforts. Dirrell has a slick defense comprised of crafty footwork, and head movement energized by quick reflexes.
Dirrell is also known for being able to switch between orthodox and southpaw stances. Though southpaw is his natural stance, what makes Dirrell different than other fighters who switch is that he fully commits to whatever stance he’s in.
The key to using both stances to his advantage is to spend time in one (or both) and figure out how James DeGale adjusts to each stance, and for Dirrell to see what he can get away with. For example, he may find he can box DeGale much better in a southpaw stance, but pop-shot and frustrate him more in an orthodox stance.
James DeGale
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James DeGale’s strengths might as well be a copy and paste of Andre Dirrell’s. He does however, have plenty of skills to challenge Dirrell and give him a run for his money. DeGale can also box well, has great handspeed, power, sharp punches and a slick style of head movement and footwork-centered defense.
One difference between the two fighters is that DeGale is more willing to throw combinations than Dirrell. This is an excellent one-up on his opponent because DeGale is less likely to be outworked. DeGale is a boxer, but he also has a ruggedness about him that shows he isn’t afraid to get rough in a fight.
Weaknesses For Each Man
Andre Dirrell
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As with many slick fighters, Andre Dirrell runs the risk of getting caught with a good punch if his opponent has better speed, timing, and accuracy than he can react to. It will be important for Dirrell to feel those qualities out before he becomes too comfortable depending on his reflexes and dropping his hands in punching range.
Dirrell likes to pick his shots to break down his opponents. While I can’t take anything away from his outside work, he does run the risk of being outworked by his opponent if he only sticks with jabs and crosses. Dirrell will need to use his efficiencies on the outside to set up combinations and inside exchanges.
James DeGale
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James DeGale needs to be in a zone to perform optimally in the ring. He displays a strong confidence at the first bell, coming from the corner aggressive and ready to fight. DeGale needs that confidence to be fluid in his head movement, footwork, and combinations.
Part of that confidence comes from being first in the exchanges. DeGale is excellent at getting the jump on somebody before they can him, but if Andre Dirrell pushes to be first in the exchanges, controls the place, and disrupts DeGale’s timing, he can have a problem or two in the ring.
He may also have some trouble if Dirrell can effectively cut off the ring.
The Winner and Why
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When it came time to choose Andre Dirrell or James DeGale as the favorite, I thought I was better off flipping a coin. Fights are great when the matchups are 50/50. They’re particularly special when both fighters are evenly matched and have an uncanny resemblance in style. For real boxing fans, and those who actually practice the sport, the Dirrell vs. DeGale matchup is a chance to witness what happens when a fighter faces a mirror of himself.
There are mainly three tiebreakers in a case such as this. One man proves to be the smarter fighter; one man outworks the other fighter; one man has a greater will to win. I have confidence that DeGale is good for at least two out of three tiebreakers.
DeGale is a solid fighter who is elusive, crafty and confident enough to be aggressive, and get rough when necessary. He also isn’t afraid to let his hands go, which is a bit of contrast from Dirrell, who can be a bit of a slow starter. DeGale executes pressure in all the right ways—ones that work for him has a boxer and that challenge someone like Dirrell who has the same style.
I see this fight going the distance, with a decision in favor of DeGale.
