Two-time world super middleweight champion James DeGale has announced a return to combat sports nearly seven years after he retired from boxing.

DeGale will make his debut for Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship on September 27 against Australian Matt Floyd, who has a 15-2 record in boxing, including 10 knockouts.

DeGale, a 2008 Olympic gold medalist, retired in the wake of his points defeat to Chris Eubank Jr. in February 2019 with a record of 25-3-1 (15 KOs). He has recently teased a return to boxing, with a fight against Harley Benn rumoured to be in the works.

He instead decided to try his hand without gloves. His clash with Floyd will take place at the top of a bill at AO Arena in Manchester.

“I’m back,” DeGale announced via social media. “This time the gloves are off. Everyone is asking what version you’re getting… seven years out, body healed, mind sharp – it’s the best one yet. Demolition pending. See you in the circle.”

DeGale, 39, won the IBF 168-pound title via a points victory over Andre Dirrell in May 2015 in Boston. He then hit the road to beat Lucian Bute in Quebec and Rogelio “Porky” Medina in Washington in successful defences of that title.

He and WBC super middleweight champion Badou Jack tangled in a memorable draw in January 2017 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. He lost his IBF belt in a shock defeat to Caleb Truax in his very next outing.

DeGale avenged his loss to Truax just four months later and reclaimed the IBF title thanks to a unanimous-decision victory at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.