By Geoff Poundes
James Degale took a step towards redemption, and perhaps in the direction of a world title, when he stopped Cristian Sanavia in Denmark tonight.
The irrepressible Degale, who’s looked out of his sorts in his last couple of outings, returned to form and stopped the over-matched Italian in the fourth round in defence of his European crown.
It was Degale’s twelfth win in thirteen fights – his only loss coming at the hands of arch-rival and fellow Brit George Groves. Both Degale and Groves, despite being relative novices in the game, stand on the threshold of world title fights – and will undoubtedly meet for a second time once one or the other has a belt strapped around their waist.
Sanavia, now 45-6, 13 KO’s, came to the ring with a solid reputation as a former WBC titleist and some had felt his experience might cause Degale some problems, but in the event the Englishman held all the physical advantages, and towered over the much-shorter 37 year old Sanavia. Degale established his jab early in the fight and kept the Italian off balance as he tee’d off with right hands. Sanavia simply couldn’t get close enough to inflict any damage, and slipped further and further into inaction as the rounds went by, until by the fourth he was already in second place.. Degale upped the pace and dropped Sanavia with a right uppercut early in the round. Sanavia rose, but looked worriedly at his corner, and Degale had him down again with the left. Two more knockdowns, both effected with quickfire combinations, and the referee stepped in.
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