James DeGale became
the first British fighter to win Olympic gold and a professional world title, defeating Andre Dirrell on Saturday to claim the vacant International Boxing Federation super-middleweight crown.
The 29-year-old Londoner knocked down the American twice in the second round, Dirrell having tasted the canvas only once before in his career, and won a unanimous decision by judges scores of 114-112, 114-112 and 117-109.
"I'm speechless. What can I say?" DeGale said. "My whole career, what I've been building to is winning the world title.
"It's a wonderful feeling. I'm world champ. I made history."
DeGale, who won the 2008 Beijing Olympic middleweight title, improved to 21-1 by winning the southpaw showdown in his US debut.