Preview: Premier Boxing Champions ‘Dirrell vs. DeGale’

Super Middleweights

Andre Dirrell (24-1, 16 KOs) vs. James DeGale (20-1, 14 KOs)

On Saturday at Boston University’s Agganis Arena, Andre Dirrell and James DeGale will vie for the IBF super middleweight title recently vacated by Carl Froch. The bout is the latest of Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions series and airs on NBC beginning at 4:30 p.m. ET/1:30 p.m. PT.

Dirrell, a 2004 Olympic bronze medalist, will look to restore some luster to the family name after his brother, Anthony, lost his WBC super middleweight crown to Badou Jack in another PBC event on April 24. DeGale, a 2008 gold medal winner, will attempt to become the first-ever British boxer to win both a gold medal and a world championship.

The matchup: Both Dirrell and DeGale would eventually like a crack at Froch, who is apparently far less interested in meeting either man in the ring. Dirrell dropped a contentious split-decision to Froch in 2009, while many believe the former champion vacated his crown to avoid a fight with DeGale.

Instead, Dirrell and DeGale will square off in what ranks as the most significant test in some time for both boxers. Dirrell has won six straight fights since his setback to Froch --including three bouts in a four-month span at the end of last year. However, most of those victories came against less-than-stellar opposition, the exception being a 2010 triumph against Arthur Abraham – a bout that Dirrell won via disqualification when Abraham hit him after he had slipped on the wet canvas.

That bout was part of the Super Six tournament, and Dirrell would later withdraw from the event due to what he called neurological issues suffered from the fight with Abraham. Two extended layoffs after that fight derailed his ascent, and only in recent months has Dirrell returned to any sort of regular fighting schedule.

Not only did Dirrell lose some of his prime as a result of the blow from Abraham, but there remains some question as to whether the former Olympian will ever meet the expectations assigned to him as a top prospect earlier in his career. Few doubt that he possesses the physical skills to get there; it’s the mental aspect that could be his greatest hurdle.

At the very least, DeGale will provide a fair assessment of Dirrell’s standing. A highly-regarded prospect in his own right, DeGale’s only setback was a majority decision setback to fellow Brit George Groves in 2010. The man known as “Chunky” has reeled off 10 straight victories since then, but like Dirrell, he has not been seriously tested. Nonetheless, he has looked strong in recent outings, earning mandatory challenger status with a fourth-round stoppage of Brandon Gonzales last May and finishing Marco Antonio Periban in three frames this past November.

On paper, this appears to be an evenly matched fight. Both boxers are southpaws, and neither has demonstrated the type of fight-altering power to give the other pause. Instead, it will likely come down to which man can outbox the other over the course of 12 rounds.

An X-factor could be the venue, as DeGale is fighting outside of his home country for just the second time in his professional career. In a close fight, the Brit might find that he has to do more to earn the nod from the ringside judges on foreign soil.

In terms of physical tools, Dirrell has a clear advantage. He has elite hand speed, excellent reflexes and does a good job of mixing up his punches. He will often rely on moving backward and then countering with multi-punch combinations when his opponent attacks. Dirrell has been known to shy away from contact – his bout against Curtis Stevens is a prime example – which could mean he lacks confidence in his chin.

Dirrell is hittable because while his speed and reflexes are outstanding, his footwork can became shoddy and he doesn’t always move his head as much as he should. When someone has the skills Dirrell does, it can become easy to fall into certain bad habits because you can get away with them.

DeGale, meanwhile, is a well-rounded fighter who is solid in all aspects but doesn’t truly excel in one area. His hand speed is decent, but not on the level of Dirrell’s. He is a solid technical boxer but can struggle when he encounters a foe who does not allow him to impose his will. Since Dirrell is primarily an outside fighter, DeGale will have to initiate exchanges and maintain pressure in order to generate the volume he would prefer.

As long as he can maintain his focus, DeGale has the potential to bother Dirrell because he is unlikely to make any huge mistakes. If DeGale can make it a more physical contest, he will have a better chance to win.

The Pick: Unless he suffers a complete breakdown, Dirrell should be able to prevail by landing quicker punches in greater volume. Expect DeGale to hang around and make things interesting, but Dirrell emerges with a decision victory.