By Scott Gilfoid: The IBF is doing their IBF super middleweight champion James “Chunky” DeGale (22-1, 14 KOs) what shapes up to be a huge favor by ordering him to defend his title next against #3 IBF Rogelio Medina (36-6, 30 KOs) rather than a talented contender like #5 IBF Andre Dirrell, #4 IBF Patrick Nielsen or #7 IBF Jesse Hart.
The DeGale vs. Medina fight could wind up as the co-feature bout on the Charles Martin vs. Anthony Joshua fight card on April 9 on Sky Box Office from the O2 in London, UK. Having DeGale fight in the co-feature bout might be something that will get more British boxing fans to open up their wallets and come up with the money to purchase the card.
If Joshua-Martin isn’t a big enough draw on its own, then maybe fans will be eager to fork over the loot to see the card if DeGale-Medina winds up in the co-feature.
DeGale was supposed to defend his IBF 168lb title against #1 IBF Jose Uzcategui (24-1, 20 KOs) next, but he came down with an illness and couldn’t take the fight. The IBF then ordered DeGale to face the next available contender, which in this case of the 27-year-old Medina. The IBF is unwittingly making it easy on DeGale by using Medina as a mandatory challenger instead of a bottom feeder, which you can make an argument that he really is. The #2 IBF is vacant at this time, so Medina was the next available guy at #3.
The question what did Medina do to be ranked at #3 with the IBF? Well, Medina has lost 3 out of his last 8 fights, but he has won his last four fights in beating these fighters: Samuel Miller (30-13, 27 KOs), Luis Acevedo (24-17-5, 15 KOs), Ernesto Aboyte (0-22-2) and J’Leon Love (21-1, 11 KOs). Obviously, the win over Love is what got Medina ranked high.
DeGale is coming off of a successful first defeat last November in beating former IBF super middleweight champion Lucian Bute by a 12 round decision in a closer than expected fight in Quebec. A lot of boxing fans thought the fight should have been scored a draw, and I agree with them. DeGale looked like he was about as shot as Bute was, and I don’t know what happened to him. Bute showed some of his powe early on, and DeGale was on the retreat from that point on.
Medina has past defeats to the following fighters: Jonathan Gonzalez, Badou Jack, Marcos Reyes, Jose Uzcategui, Luis Ramon Campas, and Gilberto Ramirez.
DeGale would like to face the likes of Badou Jack and George Groves, but thus far neither of those fights have presented themselves to him lately. DeGale did fight Groves in 2011, but he lost a 12 round decision in that fight. I think it would be a bad idea for DeGale to fight Groves anytime soon because I think Groves would beat him a second time if the fight were to happen.
If DeGale was a popular champion like Carl Froch, then he could get guys like Gennady Golovkin to fight him, but unfortunately he doesn’t have the popularity to get a talent like him. Golovkin was willing to move up to super middleweight to fight Froch at 168, but Froch retired rather than face Golovkin.
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