James DeGale loses to Caleb Truax after Lee Selby beats Eduardo Ramirez

Summary

James DeGale loses world title to American Caleb Truax in London
Truax beat DeGale to win IBF super-middleweight title on majority decision
Lee Selby beats Eduardo Ramirez by unanimous points to defend IBF featherweight title

Live Reporting

Mike Henson and Nate Williams

Sound problem...published at 22:08 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2017
Image source, Reuters
Ron Lewis of the Times maybe wants the volume pumped up. The sound issue is a shame as both men came in to a couple of bangers...
I blame Lethal Bizzle, who was on the mic as he accompanied Anthony Yarde into the ring earlier this evening.
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Ringwalkspublished at 22:07 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2017
James DeGale v Caleb Truax
And here comes the challenger himself, looking light on his feet as he skips towards the ring to the soundtrack of Oasis's Rock and Roll Star.
James DeGale goes for something a little more sentimental. Puff Daddy's Coming Home.
This is DeGale's hometown. Can he deliver what the crowd wants?
Introducing debt-free Caleb Truaxpublished at 22:03 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2017
James DeGale v Caleb Truax
Any students watching this fight wondering how to pay off their loans?
Why not take up boxing to settle all your financial affairs?
That's what James DeGale's 34 year-old opponent Caleb Truax did back in 2007, and as you can see on his Twitter, his decision paid off.
Image source, Caleb Truax
'I'm the bigger ticket-seller'published at 22:03 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2017
Lee Selby beats Eduardo Ramirez by unanimous decision
Image source, Getty Images
Josh Warrington on BT Sport: "It's nice to be called a decent fighter for a change by him compared to what he's been saying on social media.
On where the proposed fight should take place: "I wouldn't mind going away to Cardiff because I've won titles away from home and I have a massive following from Leeds with me.
"To have it at Elland Road would be massive for the country and why not? I'm the bigger ticket seller."
Reaction to Lee Selby's victorypublished at 22:02 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2017
Lee Selby beats Eduardo Ramirez by unanimous decision
Fellow fighters, Olympians and television personalities all enjoying Lee Selby's victory.
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'A decent display'published at 22:01 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2017
Lee Selby beats Eduardo Ramirez by unanimous decision
Image source, Reuters
The victorious Lee Selby reacts to his points win: "I thought it was a decent performance against an unbeaten, game Mexican. They knew me inside out and they sent him in with the best plan possible."
Did the fact Ramirez missed the weight play on your mind? "If you look at my career from the beginning, I'm very experienced so nothing seems to faze me. Before the last one my mother passed away, what worse could happen? I stay professional, concentrate on myself and get the job done.
On possibly fighting Josh Warrington next: "It's a massive fight. Josh Warrington has earned the mandatory position so to get there he has to be a good fighter. It would be fantastic for British boxing."
Head to Headpublished at 21:58 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2017
James DeGale v Caleb Truax
Image source, BBC Sport
This is James DeGale's first fight in 11 months after enduring a bruising draw against Badou Jack in January to hold on to his IBF belt.
The 31-year-old has had to reconstruct a fair bit of his body after that brutal contest including shoulder surgery and dentistry involved two missing teeth.
But he is evenly matched with 34-year-old Caleb Truax in terms of height and reach, so these two could give us quite a show.
And don't let Truax's age fool you because he is no pushover. The Minnesota fighter has shared the ring with some top talent including Daniel Jacobs, Andre Dirrell, Jermain Taylor and British-born Kerry Hope.
Postpublished at 21:57 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2017
James DeGale v Caleb Truax
Right, onto the main event...
'Selby's making me the villain'published at 21:56 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2017
Lee Selby beats Eduardo Ramirez by unanimous decision
Image source, Getty Images
So with that win out the way, Lee Selby must face his mandatory challenger Josh Warrington, from Leeds, in his next world title defence.
The two have built up quite a rivalry on social media and were supposed to fight in 2016, which led to a double postponement of Warrington's wedding.
However, the 'Leeds Warrior' insists he isn't the one holding the impending fight up.
"He's trying to turn me into the villain. The lad has never given me any credit or respect but I've always said it takes a great fighter to be a world champion and that's how I see him with his own ring abilities," he told BBC Sport.
"His team went overboard on the stick they were giving me last year when I had to cancel my wedding a few times so that's why this has become a rivalry and I want to fight him"
Postpublished at 21:56 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2017
BBC Radio 5 live
The commentary now switches from 5 live sports extra over to BBC Radio 5 live.
So Mike Costello (pictured left) will be alongside world-level trainer Adam Booth and former super-featherweight world champion Barry Jones. Just click play at the top of this page.
Image source, .
Tale of the scorecardspublished at 21:53 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2017
Lee Selby v Eduardo Ramirez
Image source, Reuters
The closest Eduardo Ramirez got on the cards was a four-round deficit. The other two judges had Selby by a far wider margin.
Postpublished at 21:52 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2017
Barry Jones
Former super-featherweight world champion on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra
I thought he boxed beautifully. He had his rough patches. He's not used to being the aggressor in fights, he trains to dance around opponents rather than staying on the front foot and piling on the pressure. He needs to work on that.
Postpublished at 21:52 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2017
Adam Booth
Trainer of world champion Ryan Burnett on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra
He floats and it feels good to him but when he does fight Carl Frampton or Josh Warrington his fights are going to be hard because they're going to keep coming.
Selby wins by unanimous decisionpublished at 21:51 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2017
Lee Selby v Eduardo Ramirez
Image source, Getty Images
"And still!"
It is Lee Selby's glove that is lifted aloft.
The Welshman is victorious.
Decision incomingpublished at 21:50 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2017
Lee Selby v Eduardo Ramirez
Eduardo Ramirez is marching around the ring with his gloves aloft.
He looks like a man who thinks he might have nicked it on the scorecards.
Surely not. The final totting up and paperwork is being done ringside.
Postpublished at 21:50 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2017
Adam Booth
Trainer of world champion Ryan Burnett on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra
I won't say a comfortable win because he had to work against a limited opponent. I've been saying for ten rounds of this fight I'd like to see him try and get rid of Ramirez - in the last round he tried that. I'd like to see him have that devil with his skills from earlier in the fight.
Round 12published at 21:49 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2017
Lee Selby v Eduardo Ramirez
Image source, Reuters
Lee Selby just needs to keep this tight and tidy for a scorecard victory.
Eduardo Ramirez can't bring the last-round fireworks required though.
Selby catches his man with a vicious body shot. More good work upstairs.
Ramirez stumbles. The crowd think that was a knockdown. It wasn't though.
An impressive final round - his best of the fight. But overall, only a middling performance.
Postpublished at 21:46 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2017
Barry Jones
Former super-featherweight world champion on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra
Image source, Reuters
There's some beautiful boxing on show. Lee Selby is doing brilliantly and Ramirez has got a cracking right hand but he's not using it enough for me.
Postpublished at 21:45 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2017
Adam Booth
Trainer of world champion Ryan Burnett on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra
When Lee doesn't load up on his shots he finds it easy to flow but he needs to be able to have that flow while punching spitefully. It can be done.
You can listen to Adam, Barry Jones and commentator Mike Costello on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra right now. Click into the coverage at the top of this page.
Round 11published at 21:45 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2017
Lee Selby v Eduardo Ramirez
Eduardo Ramirez is showing some wear and tear. He looks ready for the demolition job as he throws some flakey shots.
But then the Mexican snaps back to attention as Selby's feet stop moving and he catches him with a meaty left hand.
Selby felt that one. But the Welshman's legs stay strong. That was the best bit of work by either man. It may have been enough to win the round. But Ramirez needs a knockout now by my reckoning.