DeGale to defend IBF super middleweight belt against Bute

By foxsports
Published

LONDON — James DeGale will make the first defense of his IBF world super middleweight title against former champion Lucian Bute in the challenger's home country of Canada on Nov. 28.

DeGale became the first British boxer to add a world professional title to an Olympic gold medal by beating Andre Dirrell in Boston in May.

The 29-year-old DeGale says ''I went on the road to win my title and my first defense is on away soil as well, but I'm very comfortable with fighting abroad.''

Bute won the IBF belt in Montreal in 2007 at the Bell Center and wore it for more than five years, with nine successful defenses, losing to Carl Froch.

Bute says ''I lost my title in England against an English fighter and now I will box in Quebec against another English boxer.''