Badou
Jack’s journey to this weekend’s world title unifier against James DeGale has
been obscure, so it should come as no surprise that Shannon Briggs, the
colourful heavyweight character, played a crucial role.
Jack
could scarcely have emerged from any two places with less tenuous links to
boxing than Sweden and The Gambia, his birthplace and his father’s homeland
respectively.
He
may have been an obviously talented prospect, but both nations lacked the
regimented framework that could help him fulfill his potential.
Sweden
banned boxing in 1970 due to fear over its dangerous implications, and only
four-round bouts are permitted nowadays with limited rule-sets.
Jack
represented The Gambia in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing where he performed
extremely well and raised the country’s flag high during the games.