IBF super-middleweight champion James DeGale is defending his world title on December 9 at the Copper Box arena in London. The James DeGale opponent will be Caleb Truax, Boxing News understands.
Truax is a 28-3-2 (18) contender from Minnesota, who has fought the likes of Danny Jacobs and former WBC super-middleweight champion Anthony Dirrell. Jacobs outclassed him and halted the American in 12 rounds in Chicago in 2015. Truax moved up to super-middle and lost to Anthony Dirrell at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City last year. Dirrell stopped him in the first round.
DeGale, recovered from injuries that hampered him throughout this year, is promising an explosive performance. The Londoner won his world title in America and has been defending it abroad. This contest at the Copper Box is an important homecoming bout for him. It will be his first fight in London as a world champion.
“Before I won my world title, I got a lot of haters, I got criticised a lot. I think people saw that I worked hard, I boxed very well against a solid opponent and they started to give me the kudos and the respect,” he has told Boxing News.
