British Scene: DeGale Stops Smith to Claim British Title

Dave Oakes recaps Saturday's British super-middleweight title match-up.

James DeGale produced a superb performance on Saturday night to win the British super-middleweight title. Whilst he was the clear betting favourite, there was a feeling that Paul Smith, the defending champion, would pose him plenty of problems. That wasn’t the case though, as DeGale used his superior speed and skills to dominate proceedings virtually from start to finish.

The first round was a cautious affair with neither man wanting to overcommit early. There was a brief glimpse of what was to come towards the end of the round when DeGale connected with a quick straight left from the southpaw stance followed a few seconds later by an equally fast left hook.

DeGale began to find his range in the second round, catching Smith with more fast and accurate blows, the best of which was a left uppercut to the body. Smith was trying to counter DeGale but wasn’t having a great deal of success, his punches either missing or being partially blocked.

The champion had a better round in the third; he caught DeGale with a solid right and looked to be warming to the task. DeGale’s defence wasn’t looking watertight, his hands low style leaving him open at times, something that Smith was hoping to capitalise on as the fight progressed.

The fourth and fifth rounds were close affairs but it was DeGale who seemed to have the last say in the exchanges. Smith was landing the odd straight right, although it was apparent in the fifth that DeGale was making adjustments to his defence to counteract it.

It was one-way traffic for the remainder of the bout, DeGale letting his hands go more as he grew in confidence. DeGale’s jab was working well for him in the sixth, and he followed it up twice with the left hook to good effect. Smith got a brief rest bite during the sixth after a DeGale body shot was ruled as a low blow. It looked to be on the borderline, nevertheless the ref ruled it low and Smith, in obvious discomfort, took just under a minute to regain his breath.

The seventh and eighth rounds were big rounds for the challenger, he landed numerous hard blows to an increasingly easy to catch Smith. After giving Smith a deafening cheer during his ring walk and throughout the opening few rounds, the Liverpool crowd had suddenly become much quieter, a growing sense of apprehension seemingly overcoming them. They had reason to be worried, especially when DeGale landed a jolting right uppercut with a minute remaining of the eighth, the punch visibly hurting Smith.

Two straight left’s from DeGale set the tone in the ninth round, Smith tried to respond with a burst of punches when DeGale was trapped against the ropes but none landed cleanly and DeGale was able to move away without being in trouble. The end came moments later; Smith tried to land a left hook but was countered by a quicker left hook of DeGale’s that had him in serious trouble. Smith came firing back briefly; it was in vain though as he was caught with another left hook that sent him backwards towards the ropes, the referee jumping in to save him after a flurry by DeGale was finished with yet another head rocking left.

There were some complaints about the stoppage, as is nearly always the case when a fighter’s stopped on his feet. I personally thought the referee got it spot on; Smith had been hurt a couple of times and was getting his head rocked back when the fight was stopped. DeGale was looking to finish the job, and even if the fight had continued, I doubt it would’ve gone on much longer.

To win a British title in nine fights is impressive going and to beat a fighter of Smith’s calibre with such ease so soon in his career proves that DeGale has the potential to become a very special boxer. He already looks a level above the domestic scene, there’s only Brian Magee who would make him work for a victory, and even then, you’d have to strongly favour DeGale to win.

I think we should forget about a possible match-up between DeGale and his old amateur rival, George Groves, for the time being. I’d be very surprised if both parties (Frank Warren and Adam Booth) came to an agreement, and would be even more surprised if the fight happened and Groves won, it looks like DeGale is in a different league at the minute.

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