Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

As it happenedended

James DeGale vs Chris Eubank Jr result: Junior knocks DeGale down twice en route to one-sided win

Relive all the action as James DeGale and Chris Eubank Jr settled their longstanding rivalry at the 02 Arena

Tom Kershaw
Sunday 24 February 2019 00:29 GMT
Comments
James DeGale v Chris Eubank Jr: Tale of the Tape

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Chris Eubank Jr has left James DeGale facing retirement after securing the finest victory of his career via a unanimous decision in their IBO super middleweight title match in London.

He had previously lost his two biggest fights, against Billy Joe Saunders and George Groves, but improved sufficiently to win an occasion DeGale said would force the loser to retire.

At 29 and with so high a profile there was little risk of that for Eubank Jr, but after his third defeat and a career in which he became the first British Olympic gold medallist to win a world title DeGale - the loser by scores of 114-112, 115-112 and 117-109 - has been left with few lucrative options to pursue.

Relive all the live action below...

Please wait a moment for the blog to load...

Round 1: Eubank is working nicely when the pair come together. There's a slight graze above DeGale's right-eye.

Tom Kershaw23 February 2019 22:47

Round 1: The round began perfectly for DeGale, who immediately found his range against Eubank, but the Brighton-based fighter came back well towards the end of the round.

Tom Kershaw23 February 2019 22:49

Knockdown! James DeGale is down a the beginning of the second round!

Tom Kershaw23 February 2019 22:49

Round 2: Eubank caught DeGale square on with a big-right hand and then burst into a flurry of punches, eventually forcing DeGale to slump against the ropes. DeGale has recovered after the mandatory 8-count but Eubank comes again!

Tom Kershaw23 February 2019 22:50

Round 2: Huge round for Eubank, he caught DeGale with a big right hand and wobbled him. Then, as DeGale fell back towards the corner, Eubank landed another left-hook. Nate Vasquez tells Eubank to go for the uppercut and stop loading up. Ronnie Davies implores him to pour on the pressure.

Tom Kershaw23 February 2019 22:53

Round 3: DeGale improves towards the end of the third round, but he looks vulnerable every time Eubank gets into range. Jim McDonnell in the DeGale corner urges his man to move move, but it's another Eubank round.

Tom Kershaw23 February 2019 22:57

Round 4: Chris Eubank Jr is cut now above the right-eye as the pair come together midway through the fourth

Tom Kershaw23 February 2019 22:58

Round 4: Eubank Jr traps DeGale on the ropes in the closing stages of the round and unleashes another burst of punches. That wins a close-fought round for Eubank and the cut above his eye doesn't look like it will trouble him too much. 

Tom Kershaw23 February 2019 23:01

Round 5: Eubank has slowed down and is allowing DeGale space to breathe. Nate Vasquez in the corner screams for his fighter to up the pace. At the moment, though, DeGale hasn't looked like throwing anything to trouble Eubank since the first round. 

Tom Kershaw23 February 2019 23:03

Round 5: A less eventful round that could have gone either way, but Eubank may just have edged it with his aggression. DeGale has to find a way to time Eubank on the way in.

Tom Kershaw23 February 2019 23:05

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in