By Scott Gilfoid: Badou Jack (20-1-3, 12 KOs) has official vacated his WBC super middleweight title, according to the World Boxing Council. This move was not unexpected, as Jack, 32, had said that he planned on vacating the title last Saturday night after his 12 round draw against IBF super middleweight champion James DeGale (23-1-1, 14 KOs) at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Jack wants to move up to light heavyweight title challenge the top fighters in that weight class. Jack’s promoter Floyd Mayweather Jr. has immediate plans to have him fight WBC 175lb champion Adonis Stevenson in June.
It would be a great fight for Jack if he can get it, but the chances are likely that the fight won’t take place that quickly. Jack might need to get one or two fights under his belt before he gets a title shot against Stevenson. It would be nice news for the boxing fans if Jack fought for a world title straightaway against Stevenson, but it looks like the Canadian fighter is going to be facing Joe Smith Jr. next.
A fight between Stevenson and Jack may need to wait until either later this year or in 2018. Mayweather seems to know what he’s doing in moving Jack up in weight rather than having him remain at 168 to continue defending his WBC title.
The judges scored the DeGale vs. Jack fight 114-112 for DeGale, and 113-113, 113-113.
The WBC will now go ahead and order #1 WBC Callum Smith (22-0, 17 KOs) to fight #2 WBC Anthony Dirrell (30-1-1, 24 KOs) for the vacant WBC super middleweight title. That’s not a good match-up for Smith, because Dirrell can really punch, and he’s got faster hands. Smith, 6’3”, hasn’t fought anyone with the kind of talent that Dirrell possesses during his career.
Here’s what the WBC said today:
“The WBC has received official notification from WBC super middleweight champion, Badou Jack, who has decided to move up in weight and compete in the light heavyweight division; consequently, the super middleweight championship of the world has been declared vacant. The WBC wishes Badou Jack continuous success and the best of luck in his boxing career hoping that one day he will compete for the light heavyweight championship of the world.”
DeGale and his promoter Eddie Hearn both talked about wanting a rematch against Jack. Mayweather made it clear that any rematches between DeGale and Jack MUST take place at light heavyweight.