Eubank Jr, Joyce, Dirrell Come Out Victorious

In an eventful night of boxing the super middleweight division got a potential future match-up, while a rising heavyweight continued to gain steam. Over in the UK, Chris Eubank Jr (28-2, 21 KO's) soundly defeated James DeGale (25-3-1, 15 KO's) by unanimous decision. Eubank Jr dropped DeGale twice in the sloppy affair that never really saw DeGale get going. Once considered the best super middleweight in the world, it appeared as though James DeGale's career is coming to an end.

On the undercard rising UK heavyweight Joe Joyce (8-0, 8 KO's) battered an overweight, and overmatched Bermane Stiverne (25-4-1, 21 KO's) to a 6th round TKO victory. Much like DeGale, Stiverne was no where near the force he used to be in the fight.

Anthony Dirrell (33-1-1, 24 KOs) defeated Avni Yildirim (21-2, 12 KOs)by technical split decision (96-94 X 2 for Dirrell, 98-92 for Yildirim) for the vacant WBC Super Middleweight World Championship in the main event of Premier Boxing Champions on FS1 and FOX Deportes from the Armory in Minneapolis. Referee Mark Nelson stopped the contest in the tenth round due to an accidental clash of heads and a cut over Dirrell's left eye with the decision going to the scorecards.

"I was upset with the stoppage because I wanted finish the fight like a champion," said Dirrell. "It feels great getting my WBC belt back. We want to unify against Caleb Plant or any of the champions. I'm just going to go home, take some time, talk to my camp and then we'll go from there. If the Benavidez fight comes calling then I'll fight him.

"I thought I was winning this fight by more than what the judges had," added Dirrell. "I was jabbing him and he was applying some pressure, but that's just what he does. I won the fight though and that's all that matters."