'Disgusted' Swedish boxer retains world crown
Badou Jack retained his World Boxing Council super middleweight world title with a majority draw against former champ Lucian Bute -- and said he's ready for Briton James DeGale.
Badou Jack retained his World Boxing Council super middleweight world title with a majority draw against former champ Lucian Bute -- and said he's ready for Briton James DeGale.
Sweden's Jack was disgusted with the judges after battling a determined Bute for 12 rounds at the DC Armory, convinced he'd clearly won.
"Bullshit" was his assessment after one judge scored it 117-111 in his favor and two others made it 114-114.
The outcome let Jack retain his title and stay on course for a unification fight this year with DeGale, who retained his International Boxing Federation super middleweight title with a unanimous decision over Mexico's Rogelio Medina on the same card.
"I thought I won the fight," said Jack, who took his record to 21-1 with 1 drawn and 12 knockouts. "He's a hell of a fighter. He deserves a lot of credit. He's a great guy and a great champion, but I won the fight."
Indeed Jack was crisp and accurate, but Romanian-born Canadian Bute was game, piling on the pressure in the final three rounds.
He walked quietly to his corner after the final bell, but indicated he didn't think a draw was out of line.
"It was a close fight," said Bute, who took his record to 32-3-1.
The draw wasn't enough to disrupt plans for a Jack-DeGale showdown later in 2016.
Comments
See Also
Badou Jack retained his World Boxing Council super middleweight world title with a majority draw against former champ Lucian Bute -- and said he's ready for Briton James DeGale.
Sweden's Jack was disgusted with the judges after battling a determined Bute for 12 rounds at the DC Armory, convinced he'd clearly won.
"Bullshit" was his assessment after one judge scored it 117-111 in his favor and two others made it 114-114.
The outcome let Jack retain his title and stay on course for a unification fight this year with DeGale, who retained his International Boxing Federation super middleweight title with a unanimous decision over Mexico's Rogelio Medina on the same card.
"I thought I won the fight," said Jack, who took his record to 21-1 with 1 drawn and 12 knockouts. "He's a hell of a fighter. He deserves a lot of credit. He's a great guy and a great champion, but I won the fight."
Indeed Jack was crisp and accurate, but Romanian-born Canadian Bute was game, piling on the pressure in the final three rounds.
He walked quietly to his corner after the final bell, but indicated he didn't think a draw was out of line.
"It was a close fight," said Bute, who took his record to 32-3-1.
The draw wasn't enough to disrupt plans for a Jack-DeGale showdown later in 2016.
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.