Olympic Bronze Medalist Andre Dirrell (25-2, 16 KOs) defeated Australia’s Blake Caparello (22-2-1, 6 KOs) by unanimous decision (98-91 X 3) in a 10-round super middleweight attraction in the Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on Spike main event from the Taj Mahal Casino and Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
In a bout that started off with a lot of back and forth action, Caparello struck first with a left in the second round that sent Dirrell to the canvas.
In an impressive punching display, former WBC 168lb champion Anthony Dirrell (29-1-1, 23 KOs) smashed the game but limited 32-year-old Caleb Truax (26-3-2, 16 KOs) in stopping him in the 1st round after putting him down twice in the 1st round on Friday night at the Taj Mahal Casino Resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Dirrell stunned Truax with a right hand and then put him on the canvas with another right. Truax was able to continue fighting, but he was knocked down with the first clean landing shot that Dirrell threw. The fight was stopped immediately after the second knockdown. The fight was stopped at 1:49 of the round.
Weights for Premier Boxing Champions on Spike that will take place Friday, at The Taj Mahal Casino and Hotel in Atlantic City.
Andre Dirrell 169 – Blake Caparello 167
Anthony Dirrell 168.8 – Caleb Truax 168.6
Jonathan Guzman 122 – Daniel Rosas 121.2
Brendan Barrett 248 – Alando Pugh 236
Olympic Bronze Medalist Andre Dirrell (24-2, 16 KOs) takes on Australia’s Blake Caparello (22-1-1, 6 KOs) in a 10-round super middleweight attraction as Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) returns to Spike on Friday, April 29 from Taj Mahal Casino and Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Also on the same card, Dirrell’s brother, former world champion Anthony “The Dog” Dirrell (28-1-1, 22 KOs) will meet former world title challenger Caleb “Golden” Truax (26-2-2, 16 KOs) in a 10-round super middleweight affair as part of an exciting night of PBC on Spike action beginning at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT.
After narrowly losing out in his challenge for the vacant IBF 168lb title to Britain’s James DeGale at the end of last month on Al Haymon’s PBC format, Andre “The Resurrected” Dirrell, has spoken to fighthype.com to insist that he wants to do it all again and is prepared to come to the UK to do so.
The American essentially lost the fight due to two early knockdowns, that despite a spirited comeback, were enough to win DeGale the fight, even when it appeared the Harlesden man was flagging in the final third of the contest.
Following last night’s history making victory for James DeGale against Andre Dirrell, his trainer – former world title challenger Jim Mc Donnell -has spoken out to say it’s the consistent work ethic of the Harlesden fighter that won him the fight in the end.
“He has worked so hard, not just for this camp but since day one. I said to him, when he first turned professional that this is the plan.”
Those of us in the UK, who started out frustrated at the fact that the live televised broadcast of tonight’s fight card was delayed by a sh***y lower tier English football play off final, actually had our spirits lifted come the end of the in-ring action, when Harlesden’s James DeGale, became the first British fighter in history to lift a professional world title following an Olympic gold medal.
One hell of an achievement.
The likable Londoner is the sole British name on an elite list of fighters that includes both Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard in accomplishing this history making feat, in a fight that was nothing short of an emotional rollercoaster for both sides – UK AND US – as the early action saw 2 stunning knockdowns in the 2nd round that left many thinking it would be an early night’s work for the Brit.
James DeGale (21-1, 14 KOs) narrowly defeated Andre Dirrell (24-2, 16 KOs) Saturday afternoon on Premier Boxing Champions on NBC from Agganis Arena in Boston to earn the super middleweight world title.
Degale had Dirrell in trouble early knocking him down twice in the second round to open up a lead on the scorecards. Dirrell fought back strongly throughout the rest of the fight by using his jab and a series of combinations to occasionally stun DeGale, but was unable to make up the gap on the scorecards. The judges’ scores were 114-112 twice and 117-109.
Andre Dirrell (24-2, 16 KOs) put in a game effort this afternoon in losing a 12 round unanimous decision to James DeGale (21-1, 14 KOs) in their fight for the vacant IBF super middleweight title Agganis Arena in Boston, Massachusetts. Dirrell, 31, lost the fight despite appearing to win most of the round. His problem was he was knocked down twice by DeGale in the 2nd round.
James DeGale MBE has warned Andre Dirrell that he is ready to pour his heart and soul into winning the vacant IBF World Super Middleweight title in Boston on Saturday night, live on Sky Sports.