Former IBF super middleweight champion James DeGale will return to boxing on September 26 against Marcus Portman in Wolverhampton.
DeGale has not competed in a professional boxing match since losing a unanimous decision to Chris Eubank Jr. in 2019, although he appeared in a bare-knuckle bout against Matt Floyd last September.
The 40-year-old made history in 2015 by defeating Andre Dirrell to become the first British boxer to win both an Olympic gold medal and a professional world title.
“I can’t go out how I went out against Eubank,” DeGale said. “I’ve stayed in shape, and after Floyd, I want to have one more in boxing.”
DeGale stressed that he is not targeting another traditional world title run. Instead, he hopes the comeback could lead to crossover fights against names such as Jake Paul, KSI, Tommy Fury, Darren Till or Ty Mitchell.
Portman, 45, is a former English welterweight champion. The weight for the bout has not yet been confirmed, and the contest is not expected to be sanctioned by the British Boxing Board of Control.
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