Super middleweight world titleholders Badou Jack and James DeGale have been on a collision course since they appeared together on the same Showtime-televised card in April in Washington, D.C.The whole idea of having them fight on that card was to pair them if they retained their titles, which they did. Jack did so by controversial draw in a fight most thought he won easily against Lucian Bute (who tested positive for a banned substance after the fight), while DeGale did so by unanimous decision against mandatory challenger Rogelio Porky Medina.And though it took some time to work everything out, Jack and DeGale -- regarded by many as No. 1 and No. 2 in the 168-pound weight class, in whichever order one wants to place them -- will meet Jan. 14.On Wednesday, they met face-to-face and showed respect as they formally announced the fight at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, to be televised on Showtime.Its here. The big one, DeGale said. The best fighting the best. No. 1 against No. 2. Badou Jack is a very good fighter. He doesnt do anything spectacular, but hes a complete fighter. I have that X factor. Ive lost before, and Im not going to lose again. Ive come too far in my life to lose this opportunity.Jack offered his take on the matchup.?Im expecting a very tough fight from James DeGale, but Im very confident that Im going to win the fight and become the unified champion, Jack said.This is an incredible stage to be at Barclays Center and on Showtime, and Im going to take full advantage of it. Im ready to make my mark as the best in the division.Barclays Center is on board to host the fight, but only as long as the promoters can secure an insurance policy that the state approves. New York recently implemented legislation that dramatically changed the standards for insuring combat sports in the state, and so far, no policy is available for boxing events. New York has not hosted a boxing card since Aug. 21. Several dates for the remainder of 2016 were canceled.But Mayweather Promotions and DiBella Entertainment, co-promoters of the card, rolled the dice in the hopes the issue will be ironed out in time for fight night. Lou DiBella, founder and owner of his company, said he was confident the insurance issue would be.There is going to be a show here on Jan. 14, DiBella?said. We have lawyers and insurance people on it, and we will pay what needs to be paid. This announcement not only represents a fight announcement but a call to action to all boxing fans. Boxing needs your help in New York. We need to change or repeal this law that has really shut us down. Even if we can get really expensive insurance for Jan. 14, the small promoters and small fights and grassroots boxing have come to a standstill.Promoter Floyd Mayweather added his thoughts.We want to continue to do fights in this arena and bring championship boxing to New York City, Mayweather said. We want to give you great shows again and again.Wherever the fight takes place, it will be a high-level bout between the divisions elite.I think this will be an exciting fight. Im going to give it my all, and hes going to give it his all, Jack said. This is a bigger fight than anything weve been a part of. Hes going to turn it up, and so will I. Now its me and DeGale. All the other fights are in the past. Weve had different results against the same fighters. But none of that matters. Its time to fight.DeGale sounded equally confident.I believe Im the best in the division and one of the best in the world, DeGale said. Ive been waiting for this fight for a long time, and Im ready to get in there. I think in the last three fights Ive shown everything. I havent been getting the respect that I deserve. Ive beaten everyone put in front of me. This is what I love to do.Me and Badou Jack are two different fighters. I think Im going to beat him wide on the scorecards or stop him.Jack (20-1-2, 12 KOs), 33, who is from Sweden but is based in Las Vegas -- where he trains at Mayweathers gym -- and Englands DeGale (23-1, 14 KOs), 30, will each be making a third title defense. DeGale has all of his fights away from home. He won a vacant title against Andre Dirrell in Boston and defended in Quebec City and Washington, D.C.Jack said he respects that.DeGale is definitely one of the top guys in the division. Hes a road warrior, he said. He comes over here and fights guys in their backyards. He deserves a lot of credit. Thats why this fight is so big. We both want to be great.Junior lightweight titleholder Jose Pedraza (22-0, 12 KOs), 27, of Puerto Rico, will defend his world title for the third time in the co-feature when he takes on Mayweather protégé Gervonta Davis (16-0, 15 KOs), a dynamic 22-year-old from Baltimore who is taking a big step up in competition.They were also on hand Wednesday to begin the hype for their fight.I know Pedraza is a great fighter. People will say he has more experience, but I had 206 wins in the amateurs and a lot of titles, Davis said. Theres nothing Pedraza can bring to the ring that I havent seen before. Ive been battle-tested inside the ring and outside the ring. Hes going to have to kill me to retain his title. Im coming home a champion. Theres no doubt about it.Pedraza, Puerto Ricos only reigning world titleholder, was also filled with confidence.Im going to be ready for anything that Davis will bring into the ring. Im going to take care of business, Pedraza said. If Davis says he has to be killed to be beaten, then hes going to have to go down. Im undefeated, and I will remain undefeated after Jan. 14. I know Davis is a strong kid, but he isnt on my level. I am looking to dominate this fight. Chimezie Metu Jersey . Burris threw two TD passes, including a key 15-yard fourth-quarter strike to Bakari Grant that effectively countered a Toronto comeback bid and led Hamilton to a 33-19 victory. DeMar DeRozan Jersey . - The Washington Redskins have cut defensive lineman Adam Carriker and punter Sav Rocca. https://www.spurslockerroom.com/David-Robinson-City-Edition-Jersey/ . "No difference at all," chirped U.S. roommate and linemate James van Riemsdyk. "Its still the same cranky Phil. Derrick White Jersey . "I dont know that were close," said general manager Alex Anthopoulos. "I just think, right now, the acquisition cost just doesnt work for us right now. I dont know if I can quantify how far off or things like that that they might be but I would say we continue to have dialogue. Dejounte Murray Spurs Jersey .Y. - Rob Manfred was promoted Monday to Major League Baseballs chief operating officer, which may make him a candidate to succeed Bud Selig as commissioner. PULLMAN, Wash. -- An empty chair sat at the end of Washington States bench at the beginning of the game. Coach Ernie Kent was on the opposite side of the court, seated next to Idaho coach Don Verlin.Both coaches lost their fathers to cancer, so when Verlin donated a Coach for a Day package to an auction for Coaches vs. Cancer, Kent beat out other bidders and chose to spend the first 30 seconds of the game on Idahos bench.I dont think anybodys ever seen that anywhere in the country, where opposing coaches stood on one side of the field, sat on another teams bench, sat in another teams dugout, Kent said. But thats not the importance of what transpired. It was the fact that you have coaches, again coaches, standing up for such a worthy cause.Kent said it ranked near the top of his favorite coaching memories, as it brought awareness to trying to find a cure for cancer.Kents Washington State team beat cross-border rival Idaho 61-48 on Wednesday night in the 271st meeting.Ike Iroegbu had 16 points and seven rebounds for Washington State (5-4), which scored the first four points of the game, never trailed and led by 18 in the second half. Malachi Flynn added 12 points before getting into foul trouble and the Cougars shot 39 percent from the field. Josh Hawkinson had his 47th career double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds.Washington State snapped a two-game losing streak to the Vandals in the oldest continuous rivalry west of the Mississippi.Idaho (4-4), coming off a win against UC Davis, shot 26 percent from the field. Victor Sanders lead the Vandals with 18 points on 7-of-15 shooting.Down 11 points at the half, the Vandals never gott within single digits in the second half as they went seven minutes without scoring.ddddddddddddWashington State also went scoreless for five-plus minutes after halftime.Idaho turned it over 14 times but grabbed 20 offensive rebounds. Verlin said the teams biggest issue was not being able to score.Just missed a bunch of shots. You gotta give credit to Washington State, Verlin said. Their defenses size really bothered us around the basket. We just didnt score our ball the way we needed to tonight.The all-time series record belongs to the Cougars, who have won 162 meetings compared to Idahos 109.Those games are always the fun games, you know, Iroegbu said. Especially UW, Idaho, Gonzaga, those are the games where you see your schedule come out every year and you circle them, get ready for that one. And when youre in the gym by yourself, those are the teams you think about playing, one of those three teams here at Washington State. These rivalry games are really important to us.BIG PICTUREWashington State: The Cougars ended a four-game home stand with two wins and two losses, and have three games left before conference play begins. After coming in last place in the Pac-12 last season, the Cougars are looking to put together some momentum before they face Washington to open conference play.UP NEXTIdaho: The Vandals will continue their road trip and play at South Dakota State on Dec. 10. They have two games left before conference play.Washington State: The Cougars will travel to face the Big 12s Kansas State. ' ' '
