James DeGale loses his IBF Super-Middleweight title in shock defeat to Caleb Truax

Credit: PA

James DeGale has lost his IBF super-middleweight belt after he was surprisingly beaten by American Caleb Truax on a majority decision.

De Gale, 31, was making the fourth defence of his title - and his first fight on home soil in more than three years - but the home crowd were left disappointed following a bruising defeat for the former Olympic champion.

One judge scored the fight as a draw at 114-114, but further scores of 115-112 and 116-112 in favour of the challenger condemned DeGale to only the second defeat of his career with Truax crowned as the new champion.

DeGale, who underwent surgery on his right shoulder following his controversial draw with Badou Jack in January, will have been pleased with his first round back in action for nearly a year after he shaded the opener.

But Truax proved he would be no pushover with the following exchanges being edged by the challenger.

The bout then dramatically came alive in the fifth round after Truax unleashed a number of fierce shots against DeGale.

The British fighter was in trouble, up against the ropes and with blood pouring from his nose, but somehow survived and was urging the 34-year-old American to unleash further fury.

DeGale rallied in the closing stages but he headed back to his corner bloodied and in deep trouble.

He steadied the ship in the sixth but his opponent remained in charge of the fight, and as the match headed into the seventh round DeGale appeared in need of a sudden turnaround to retain his belt.

DeGale suffered only his second professional defeat. Credit: PA

The Londoner put up brave resistance but it was Truax who delivered the more telling shots in the 10th as he caught DeGale with a fierce uppercut.

To his credit, DeGale came out firing in the penultimate round, perhaps sensing that a stoppage would be his best chance of salvaging victory, but Truax stood firm despite encouragement from the partisan crowd.

DeGale shaded the final round, too, but it was Truax who sunk to his knees believing he had done enough to secure a shock win, and so it proved.

Earlier, Welshman Lee Selby secured a unanimous points victory over Eduardo Ramirez to retain his IBF world featherweight championship crown.

Welshman Selby claimed a win against Ramirez. Credit: PA

Selby's belt was not on the line after Ramirez failed to make the weight, but the 30-year-old, who lost his mother just days before he defended his title against Jonathan Victor Barros in July - a fight which had been postponed after the Argentine failed a blood test - appeared keen on putting on a good show.

Ramirez may have arrived in England eight pounds over the featherweight limit, but he, too, was up for the fight, and the southpaw provided a nagging test throughout the 12 rounds.

The judges scored the contest 118-110, 119-109, 116-112 in Selby's favour as the Welshman successfully defended his title for a fourth time.

British heavyweight Daniel Dubois continued the impressive start to his professional career after he secured a crushing victory against Dorian Darch.

The 20-year-old Londoner scored his six consecutive win after seeing off the Welshman, 33, with a second-round stoppage after flooring his opponent on three occasions.