bareknuckle

Britain’s James DeGale earned victory by unanimous decision against Matt Floyd on his bare-knuckle boxing debut in Manchester.

DeGale, an Olympic gold medallist and former two-time IBF super-middleweight champion, came out on top of a scrappy affair with the judges scoring it 48-43, 48-43 and 47-44 in his favour.

Australian Floyd was deducted three points during the fight for headbutting DeGale and putting him in a headlock, with the 39-year-old Briton doing some of his best work via his jab.

“The holding and punching, it’s crazy stuff. But I’m 1-0 and that’s all that matters,” said DeGale.

“He was tough but in a boxing fight he wouldn’t last two rounds.”

The bout was DeGale’s first since a punishing loss to Chris Eubank Jr six years ago that ended his career.

DeGale made history as Britain’s first boxer to win both Olympic gold and a professional world title in 2015.

Former world champion James DeGale will make his bare-knuckle fighting debut on 27 September in Manchester.

DeGale, 39, retired from boxing in 2019 after a unanimous decision defeat by Chris Eubank Jr.

He will return to combat sports against Australian Matt Floyd on the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship card at the AO Arena.

“UK I’m back. This time the gloves are off,” the Londoner wrote on Instagram.

“Everyone asking what version you’re getting… seven years out, body healed, mind sharp – it’s the best one yet. Demolition job pending.”

DeGale became the first British boxer to win both an Olympic gold medal and a professional world title.

He won middleweight gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and claimed the IBF super-middleweight title in May 2015 with a points win over American Andre Dirrell.

Nicknamed ‘Chunky’, he lost the belt in December 2017 to Caleb Truax but regained it in a rematch in April 2018 before vacating it later that year.

After being outpointed by fellow Briton Eubank Jr in what was his third career loss, DeGale said he was “not the fighter I once was” and announced his retirement shortly after.

Floyd, 36, has a professional boxing record of 15 wins and two losses. The Perth-born fighter and former gang member, who served time in prison, was reportedly in talks to face Briton Tommy Fury earlier this year.