The DC Armory in Washington DC hosted Showtime Boxing. In a stunner, Badou “The Ripper” Jack (21-1-1, 12 KOs) retains his WBC Super Middleweight title against Lucian Bute (32-4, 25 KOs) with a majority draw. Jack would box effectively throughout the 12 rounds, landing his right at will to Bute’s head and body. The 1st round saw each fighter feeling the other out. Jack would begin to dictate the pace of the bout with an effective jab and crisp right. The Ripper’s perpetual motion threw off Bute’s timing. Probably thinking he was winning the fight easily, Jack coasted the last three round. Bute would capitalize by pressing the action and landing his left on a clearly tired Jack. The fight ended with Jack landing 61% of his power shots. Judge Stephen Rados scored the bout 117-111, Judges Glen Crocker and Omar Mintun Sr. both had it 114-114. Jack will face DeGale in a Super Middleweight unification bout in the fall. On 05/26/2016, the WBC stated Bute tested positive for the banned susbtance enobosaram. The fight will probably be rulled a no contest.
After the fight, Jack stated, “I won the fight, but everybody saw it though so it’s all good. I feel I landed more punches than him. But everybody saw it though, so that’s what matters. He was very tough. I may have given away a couple of rounds, maybe the last one or two rounds or so but I won the fight clearly. Right now I’m just going to relax, go home and see my beautiful daughter, take some time off and be back in the fall with DeGale.”
IBF Super Middleweight Champion, “Chunky” James DeGale (23-1, 14 KOs) won a controversial unanimous decision over Rogelio “Porky” Medina (36-7, 30 KOs). Porky took the fight to DeGale pressuring the champ from the opening bell. DeGale would resort to posturing by sticking his tongue out which did not win over the DC crowd. ‘Porky’ would respond by spitting at DeGale. Medina would continue to press the action in the later rounds with strong body punches and left hooks. DeGale would counter Medina’s shots with crisp rights. The later rounds would see DeGale begin to show the effects of the body shots by staying on the ropes. Medina would capitalize with effective combinations to the head and body. In the end, a battered and bruised DeGale would get the unanimous decision win 115-113, 117-111 2x much to the dismay of the DC Armory crowd.
DeGale on his performance, “The boxing skills are too good. If I’m being honest, he’s a very strong fighter, but skills pay the bills. I watched this guy years ago and this guy didn’t have the engine like that. He’s gotten better and stronger in the last year and a half. I’m a bit disappointed – I should be taking out people like Porky Medina, no disrespect to him.”
Medina on DeGale, “I pressured him and came here to give a good fight and good performance. That’s what I came to do tonight. I don’t know what he came to do. He just came to run, and avoid going to war with me as much as possible. I don’t see how they can give the decision to someone that doesn’t want to fight.”
Chris Pearson (14-1, 10KOs) in convincing fashion, won a uniamous decision over Joshua Okine (28-7-1, 17 KOs). Pearson got off to a quick start stunning Okine in the 1st round with a stiff jab. In Round 2, Pearson would throw a vicious low blow which sent Okine to the mat and left every man present cringing. Okine would recover and pick up the pace in the later rounds but it was too little too late as Pearson takes the decision win 99-92.
In a Super Lightweight bout, Sharif “The Lion” Bogere (28-1, 19 KOs) dominated Samuel Akoako (21-10, 15 KOs). Bogere was the quicker of the two combatants landing effective combinations against the slower Akoako. “The Lion” would stalk his prey over 10 rounds, winning a unanimous decision. Scores 100-90 3x
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