A Memorial Day weekend showdown takes center stage when Olympic stars battle it out as 2004 Bronze medalist for the United States Andre Dirrell (24-1, 16 KOs) meets 2008 Gold medalist for Great Britain James DeGale (20-1, 14 KOs) in a super middleweight bout as Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on NBC comes to Boston on Saturday, May 23 live on NBC and NBCSN in the US, and live on Sky Sports in the UK.
“I’m ready for this fight,” said Dirrell. “I’m so happy and honored to be fighting on NBC for a world title against a worthy opponent in James DeGale.”
“We are almost there, on May 23 it’s my time to make history as the first Briton to win an Olympic gold medal and a world title,” said DeGale. “I’m excited about coming to the U.S for this fight, Boston is a great city and I will be bringing plenty of support from the UK. It’s been a frustrating period waiting for my shot but now it’s here and no one is taking it away from me.”
“I’ve had a week off, I feel refreshed and I am right back on it now,” said DeGale. “I don’t think that you can over-train but you can under-rest – when you are trained by Jim McDonnell and you have done eight weeks already, you know he doesn’t mess around in the gym – he pushes me hard every day and he told me that I needed to have a full week off, no thinking about boxing, no running, no training. I needed it and now I feel fantastic and my focus is complete.
“My time is here and I am going to be crowned the IBF World champion. Traveling doesn’t worry me – I like it. As an amateur I traveled all over the world and came home with medals, especially at the Olympics, so when the pressure is on and I am a little nervous, that’s when I come into my own, I relish it.”
“I’m thrilled to bring Premier Boxing Champions to the Agganis Arena at Boston University on May 23,” said Lou DiBella, President of DiBella Entertainment. “Holiday fireworks will begin Saturday afternoon when America’s skilled technician and Olympic bronze medalist Andre Dirrell takes on Britain’s Olympic gold medalist James DeGale for the world super middleweight championship. The card will also feature strong co-featured and undercard bouts, including Boston, New England and Irish title contenders.”
An amateur standout who won two U.S. Amateur World Championships in addition to his Olympic Bronze medal, the 31-year-old Dirrell looks to keep up his recent win streak when he battles DeGale on May 23. A winner of his last six fights, Dirrell’s only blemish on his record is a split decision loss to Carl Froch in 2009. The fighter out of Flint, Michigan holds victories over Arthur Abraham and Curtis Stevens.
Born in London, DeGale won a Commonwealth Championship Bronze medal in 2006 and an Olympic Gold medal in 2008. The 29-year-old turned pro in 2009 and won his first 10 starts while ending eight of those opponents within the distance. His only loss came in 2011 when he lost to fellow countryman George Groves by a narrow majority decision. Since then he has won 10-straight bouts including his most recent victory over Marco Antonio Periban.
PBC and DiBella Entertainment are proud to be working in association with Ken Casey and his Murphys Boxing on this event. The Dropkick Murphys front man has been on the front lines of the boxing resurgence in Boston.
“Boston deserves to have big time fight cards like this. We have rabid boxing fans and a ton of talented world class fighters, many of which will be featured on May 23,” said Casey.
DeGale is aiming to make history on the east coast as the first British Olympic gold medal winner to win a World title, and the 29 year old is convinced he will do so in style against the Michigan southpaw who is aiming to land a World title for the first time after losing to Carl Froch in Nottingham in his previous attempt back in October 2009.
DeGale is back in the gym to resume his training camp after a week off following the announcement of the May date, and the Harlesden ace says that rest has done him the world of good as he closes in on his destiny.
