James DeGale
DeGale is targetting a unification bout with Jack in April Getty

James DeGale beat Lucian Bute via an unanimous decision to retain his IBF super-middleweight title. In his first title defence since taking the belt off Andre Dirrell in Boston in May, DeGale secured 116-112 117-111 117-111 in his favour on the judges' cards in Quebec on Saturday 28 November.

It marked a successful night all round for British boxing, with Tyson Fury being crowned the new WBO, IBF and WBA heavyweight champion after victory over Wladimir Klitschko hours earlier.

Bute, who held the IBF title for five years until he was dethroned by Carl Froch in 2012, was on the backfoot in the opening rounds of the contest but roared on by a home crowd, the Canadian-born Romanian forced his way back into the contest.

The challenger was able to move onto the front foot and dominate the centre of the ring but failed to significantly trouble DeGale he was able to block most of his shots. DeGale patiently and methodically took his opportunities and landed with a couple of telling uppercuts in the seventh and eighth.

The London-born fighter took a heavy blow in the 11th but recovered quickly in the final round, connecting with a neat right hook to ensure the victory was his.

After his win, DeGale told the crowd he wanted WBC champion Badou Jack next in a title unification bout.

"Let's do it in Vegas next April," DeGale said when quizzed on a showdown with Jack.

DeGale also paid tribute to Bute. "I said Lucian Bute is a world-class fighter. But I'm young, fresh and peaking now. I'm ready for the best in the world. All credit to Lucian Bute. He's a great champion and, believe me, he will be back."

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