James DeGale has beaten challenger Lucian Bute on a unanimous points decision to successfully defend his IBF super-middleweight title.
The 29-year-old was made to battle all the way by Bute to take the bout to 12 rounds in Quebec as the Brit was forced to dig deep throughout the contest.
Bute launched a furious assault in the fourth round with a series of left hooks before landing with a right to ignite the crowd inside the Centre Videotron
DeGale suffered a cut above his eye in the middle of the fifth round in a clash of heads, but he was able to assert his control of the bout with numerous well-timed jabs.
The Brit continued to land his strikes in the latter rounds as the Romanian-born Canadian began to fade under the pressure of the blows.
DeGale finished strongly to take the bout away from Bute, although the 35-year-old ensured that he remained in the fight until the final bell.
However, the 29-year-old's victory was confirmed through the judges who scored the match 116-112, 117-111, 117-111 in his favour.
