The highly controversial ending to the Andre Dirrell vs. Jose Uzcategui fight back in May will finally get a rematch to settle the feud once and for all.
Uzcategui's promoter Fernando Beltran told ESPN Deportes that Dirrell vs. Uzcategui 2, for the IBF interim super middleweight title will take place on January 27 in Los Angeles, California. A site for the bout, as well as an official announcement was made.
"Uzcategui will face Dirrell on January 27 in Los Angeles, and we've come to an agreement on those terms after finding another opportunity that Uzcategui deserved given how the first fight ended. My prediction will be that Uzcategui will win by way of knockout," Beltran said.
The first fight, which took place in May and was televised on Showtime, ended abruptly after Uzcategui punched Dirrell after the eighth round ending bell rang. Uzcategui was disqualified and Dirrell was given the win and the title. The fight caused a ton of commotion as there were arguments being made whether or not Uzcategui intentionally threw the punch after the bell had rang or not. The Maryland State Athletic Commission voted in September to uphold the original ruling made by referee Bill Clancy in the fight.
Despite Dirrell winning via disqualification, Leon Lawson Jr., Dirrell's uncle and assistant trainer, stormed across the ring and landed a left-hand punch on Uzcategui's face after the fight had ended, causing a commotion and wild goose chase as police tried to apprehend Lawson. The IBF ordered a rematch between the two with the eventual hope that the winner would be the mandatory challenger to James DeGale, who holds the IBF's full super middleweight title.
