DeGale

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.

JAMES DeGale is set to make his bare-knuckle fighting debut on TONIGHT!

DeGale returns to combat sports against Matt Floyd in Manchester for the first time since he left boxing.

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The former world champion has been out of the ring since 2019, with his last fight being a defeat to Chris Eubank Jr.

He will main event a mega Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship card in Manchester with the hotly anticipated clash between Aaron Chalmers and Love Island star Jack Fincham.

SunSport can reveal the EXACT time the fight will get going!

What time is James DeGale vs Matt Floyd?

• DeGale vs Floyd will take place on Saturday, September 27.
• Ringwalks for the HUGE clash are expected at approximately 10:30pm BST.
• The card is set to get going at 6pm BST.
• Manchester’s AO Arena will host.

What TV channel is James DeGale vs Matt Floyd on and can it be live streamed?

• DeGale vs Floyd will be broadcast live on DAZN, which is available in over 200 countries with a subscription.
• If you are not currently a DAZN member, monthly and annual subscriptions are available.
• An Annual Super Saver subscription is a one-off payment of £119.99 for 12 months access (£14.99 per month if paying in monthly instalments). 
• And a Monthly Flexible pass, which can be cancelled at any time, is £24.99 per month.
• Alternatively, you can follow the action as it happens via SunSport‘s LIVE blog.

JAMES DeGALE will make his bare-knuckle fighting debut on Saturday night.

The former boxing world champion and Olympic gold medalist returns to combat sports against Australian Matt Floyd in Manchester.

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DeGale has been out of action since he retired from boxing in 2019 following defeat to Chris Eubank Jr.

The Londoner, who became the first British boxer to win both an Olympic gold medal and a professional world title, will be looking to get back to fighting for silverware.

DeGale tops a huge Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship card with the highly anticipated bout between reality TV stars Aaron Chalmers and Jack Fincham also on the bill.

SunSport brings you all the details you need ahead of Saturday’s huge BKFC 81 event.

When is James DeGale vs Matt Floyd?

• DeGale vs Floyd will take place on Saturday, September 27.
• The show will begin at 6pm BST.
• The main event will likely begin at approximately 10.30pm BST.
• Manchester’s AO Arena will host.

What TV channel is James DeGale vs Matt Floyd on and can it be live streamed?

• DeGale vs Floyd will be broadcast live on DAZN, which is available in over 200 countries with a subscription.
• If you are not currently a DAZN member, monthly and annual subscriptions are available.
• An Annual Super Saver subscription is a one-off payment of £119.99 for 12 months access (£14.99 per month if paying in monthly instalments). 
• And a Monthly Flexible pass, which can be cancelled at any time, is £24.99 per month.
• Alternatively, you can follow the action as it happens via SunSport‘s LIVE blog.

Who else is on the BKFC 81 card?

• James DeGale vs Matt Floyd; Light heavyweight
• Aaron Chalmers vs Jack Fincham; Light heavyweight
• Jonny Graham vs Navid Mansouri; Lightweight
• Jack Cullen vs Stanislav Grosu; Middleweight
• Jonno Chipchase vs Lewis Garside; Featherweight
• Dec Spelman vs Dawid Chylinski; Light heavyweight
• David Oskar vs Travis Dickinson; Cruiserweight
• Bartlomiej Krol vs Jon Telfer; Lightweight
• Joe Lister vs Sean Weir; Light heavyweight
• Keiron Sewell vs Patryk Pietrasik; Bantamweight
• Andy Thornton vs Matty Hil; Heavyweight
• Gaz Corran vs Danny Moir; Middleweight
• Benjamin Lowe vs Mikey Henderson; Middleweight

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.