Sunday 10 December 2017 15:13, UK
James DeGale's homecoming ended in disaster as he lost his IBF super-middleweight world title to American Caleb Truax.
'Chunky' was in trouble in the fifth round and although his experience saw him fight back in the second-half of the fight, he lost a majority decision.
The scores of 114-114, 115-112, 116-112 in Truax's favour stunned a Copper Box crowd that had come to see the first British fighter to win an Olympic gold and a professional world title, box on home soil again.
DeGale had planned to use the night to re-establish himself at the top of an impressive super-middleweight pile but now will have to go back to the drawing board.
The 31-year-old was back in action following a serious shoulder injury and admitted it might have been too early to return.
Truax, from Minnesota was in tears when the scores were read out but although there was no clause in the fight contract, DeGale immediately called for a rematch.
The Londoner's first fight on these shores for two-and-a-half years started cautiously with Truax taking the centre of the ring, forcing the pace, but the champion looking comfortable.
DeGale soon found himself pinned on the ropes, able to soak up plenty of shots and use his smartness to counter, but around the fourth round he started to get caught on the inside.
Then came the pivotal moment in the fifth. DeGale found himself in a corner with a minute gone and unable to slip out of trouble, he was hit with a vicious uppercut, then a right, another uppercut and a short hook to the head. DeGale somehow stayed on his feet and survived but it clearly took its toll and raised Truax's already growing confidence.
It took 'Chunky' at least a round to get back into some sort of groove and a typical combination, focusing on the American's body, showed the IBF champion was not going to give up his title.
By the eighth round DeGale was now taking the lead but as it entered the last quarter, again he found himself in a corner and again Truax's uppercut landed flush.
They both gave as good as they got in a pulsating 11th round and perhaps fearing the worst, DeGale went on the attack in the 12th but the visitor did exactly the same and there was little to choose between them.
Truax and his team clearly felt they had done more than enough and even DeGale looked far from comfortable as the scores of his fourth world title defence were read out, and his homecoming was ruined.
