Andre Dirrell vs. James DeGale: Winner, Scorecard and Reaction

James DeGale became the first English boxing gold medalist in history to win a world championship as a professional when he beat Andre Dirrell in Boston Saturday to capture the vacant IBF super middleweight title.

DeGale showed outstanding ring generalship and timing to grab a big lead early and then finished strong in the championship rounds to hold off a gutsy rally by Dirrell.

For most of the first two rounds, Dirrell's sharp jab and general hand speed looked like they might cause problems for DeGale, who suffered a nasty cut under his right eye. But with less than 20 seconds left in Round 2, DeGale timed an outstanding overhand left to drop Dirrell.

DeGale swarmed Dirrell when he was back on his feet and knocked him down a second time. He hit him with an additional hard shot just before the bell rang to end the round.

For the first half of the fight, DeGale consistently timed his left hand over the top of Dirrell's jab, bloodying his nose and mouth. DeGale used good movement to control the terrain and pace of the fight. 

But Dirrell showed why he has always been regarded as an outstanding boxing talent, climbing his way back into the fight from Round 7 on. From the seventh through 10th rounds, DeGale almost seemed to be coasting, and Dirrell was able to reassert an authoritative jab and scrap his way back into the fight with aggressive combination punching.

Rick Bowmer/Associated Press

I had the fight even going into the final two rounds, as did the PBC's unofficial scorer, Steve Farhood, and Michelle Phelps, boxing correspondent for Behind the Gloves and Sky Sports:

But DeGale stepped back onto the gas in Rounds 11 and 12. The strong finish likely saved the fight for DeGale, as judges Daniel Fitzgerald and Howard John Foster both had the fight the same as I did, 114-112. Judge Alan Davis had DeGale more clearly ahead at 117-109.

The punch stats showed a slight, but definitive, edge for DeGale, as LiveFight.com's tweet demonstrated:

Scoring live at ringside, Jeff Freeman of KO Digest and The Sweet Science had DeGale winning the fight 116-110. Steve Kim of Undisputed Champion Network made an interesting historical observation following the bout:

The win for DeGale makes him the top super middleweight in the world not named Andre Ward or Carl Froch. DeGale knocked out credible contenders in Brandon Gonzales and Marco Antonio Periban last year. 

In beating Dirrell, he has handled one of the top pure boxers in the division. If nothing else, DeGale's victory establishes an obvious, must-face opponent for Ward if, or when, he ever fights again.