Clarification on EBU ruling re DeGale's challenge

Some eyebrows were raised (or, more likely, anorak hoods tightened) when it was announced on Wednesday that James DeGale's next fight would be a challenge for the European super-middleweight title against champion Piotr Wilczewski.

The reason for the puzzlement amongst hardcore fans who have the patience to follow such matters was the prevailing understanding that a boxer who had lost his previous fight could not then immediately challenge for a European title.

Indeed, John Murray gave up his European lightweight title recently in order to allow his scheduled match with Kevin Mitchell to proceed. Mitchell's last fight was a stoppage defeat to Michael Katsidis.

However, it might not surprise you to hear that there is some room for manoeuvre at the EBU.

Apparently, the rule is that no boxer can challenge for a European title if they are coming directly from a bad defeat. The Ratings Commission decides on what constitutes a bad defeat. If the Commission decides that it was a close defeat to a worthy opponent, they can sanction a challenge.

DeGale would certainly fit this criteria. It is Wilczewski's first defence (and a voluntary one) since winning the title in March, which he did by way of stopping Amin Asikainen in the eleventh round and is scheduled for September 17th.