Truax: If DeGale wants a rematch, he’ll have to pay me

Boxingnews24.com

By Scott Gilfoid: James DeGale made a BIG mistake by not having a rematch clause in his contract with his fight last Saturday night against Caleb Truax (29-3-2, 18 KOs). Despite being a huge favorite, DeGale lost the fight by a 12 round majority decision, and along with the defeat, he lost his IBF super middleweight title.

Truax, 34, says he’ll grant DeGale (23-2-1, 14 KOs) a rematch, but they’re going to have to pay him to get the rematch.

DeGale was bloodied and battered by Truax in losing by the scores 115-112, 116-112 and 114-114. Those scores were extremely kind to DeGale, as Boxing News 24 had Truax winning 10 rounds to 2. DeGale was lucky to win 2 rounds, as he was just plain awful. There was never a time in the fight where DeGale didn’t look horrible.

”There was no contractual rematch clause, but I would be open to it. I took short money for this fight and I didn’t take on as much notice as I would like, but if they want a rematch, they are going to have to pay me, that’s for sure,” said Truax to skysports.com about a possible rematch with DeGale.

So there it is. DeGale can get a rematch with Truax, but he’ll need to pay him better. The question does DeGale want the second fight badly enough to give Truax the bigger slice of the pie next time? If not, then I doubt that he’ll get Truax to fight him. Truax can go in another direction to face one of the other champions in a unification fight. In fact, I think that might be a better idea for Truax than for him to bother fighting DeGale again. Truax vs. George Groves, Chris Eubank Jr. or David Benavidez would be potentially better options for him than to fight DeGale again.

It doesn’t look like the 31-year-old DeGale has much choice. He needs to avenge the loss to Truax, and he also needs his IBF super middleweight title. Without the IBF strap as a bargaining chip, DeGale is not going to have anything to help him get a better cut of the financial pie when he attempts to fight the winner of the World Boxing Super Series tournament next year.

Promoter Eddie Hearn said it was irresponsible for DeGale and his promoter not to have a rematch clause for the Truax fight. Hearn didn’t understand that move at all. Hearn thinks DeGale blew it by fighting Truax without a rematch clause in place before the fight took place. Hearn questions whether DeGale still has the love for the sport. If not, then he thinks he should get out of boxing.

If DeGale loses to Truax in the rematch, then he’ll need to think seriously about retiring. Truax is someone that DeGale has to be able to beat for him to be take seriously as a top fighter in the 168 lb. division.