James DeGale vacated his super middleweight world title on Wednesday.
“No world champion easily gives up their world title that they’ve earned the hard way in the ring, and I’ve proudly held the IBF world title in two reigns with pride and distinction which is why it makes it very hard decision to relinquish the belt,” DeGale said in a statement. “It has been a pleasure to work with the IBF and I would like to thank president Daryl Peoples for allowing me to challenge and hold the distinguished belt that so many of the division’s great champions have held before for me. It has been an honor to be recognized as the IBF world champion and I hope that by now vacating it will ease the transition to determine a successor.”
England’s DeGale (24-2-1, 14 KOs), a 30-year-old southpaw and 2008 Olympic gold medalist, held the 168-pound belt twice. He dropped Andre Dirrell twice in the second round and won a unanimous decision to win the vacant title in May 2015 and defended three times, winning decisions over Montreal star Lucian Bute and Rogelio Medina and drawing with Badou Jack in a title unification fight that was a serious contender for 2017 fight of the year.
DeGale suffered various injuries in the fight with Jack, and when he returned for a London homecoming fight against massive underdog Caleb Truax, DeGale suffered a clear and shocking decision loss in December.
They met in an immediate rematch on April 7 in Las Vegas and DeGale won a bloody unanimous decision.
DeGale was due to face interim titlist Jose Uzcategui (27-2, 23 KOs), 27, of Venezuela, in a mandatory fight. But with the sides unable to make a deal a purse bid was scheduled to take place on Thursday. With DeGale seeking bigger fights and not interested in facing Uzcategui, he elected to vacate.
“I’ve achieved so much in my career, Olympic gold, British, European and international titles and two-time world champion and I believe I’m at the top of my game right now,” DeGale said. “I’m in the final phase of my career where I have a few good years left where I can be involved in massive fights and really leave a legacy in the division’s history. My team have been working very hard behind the scenes and we’ve got some very big and exciting news to announce soon.”
Uzcategui is expected to be elevated to full titleholder status and be ordered to face mandatory challenger Caleb Plant (17-0, 10 KOs), 25, of Las Vegas.