DeGale wins to retain European title

James DeGale retained his European super-middleweight title with a unanimous points decision against Frenchman Hadillah Mohoumadi at Glow, Bluewater.

Harlesden’s former Olympic champion picked his one-paced but persistent opponent off with eye-catching shots throughout, but had his stamina tested in the second half of the fight.

He made a commanding start, catching Mohoumadi with a left uppercut followed by a straight right in the opening round.

But the French champion, who has never been stopped, was able to keep plodding forward and was clearly intent on making his fitness tell in the latter stages.

DeGale, making his debut under new promoter Mick Hennessy, landed with a big right in the fifth round and was impressive in the seventh, but by that stage was clearly feeling the pace.

When he took the centre of the ring he was able to pepper his opponent with a variety of shots, but as he tired DeGale spent much of the contest against the ropes, content to conserve energy and land with counter-punches as Mohoumadi duly walked in.

By the end of the ninth DeGale looked alarmingly ragged, but in the all-important last three rounds he produced much of his best work.

He was excellent in the 10th, catching his man with several hard shots which, finally, seemed to shake Mohoumadi.

And he stayed on top in the final rounds and was given a resounding verdict by the  judges, who scored the bout 119-109, 117-111 and 116-112.

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