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Super middleweight world titleholders Badou Jack and James DeGale have been on a collision course since they appeared together on the same Showtime-televised card in April in Washington, D.C.The whole idea of having them fight on that card was to pair them if they retained their titles, which they did. Jack did so by controversial draw in a fight most thought he won easily against Lucian Bute (who tested positive for a banned substance after the fight), while DeGale did so by unanimous decision against mandatory challenger Rogelio Porky Medina.And though it took some time to work everything out, Jack and DeGale -- regarded by many as No. 1 and No. 2 in the 168-pound weight class, in whichever order one wants to place them -- will meet Jan. 14.On Wednesday, they met face-to-face and showed respect as they formally announced the fight at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, to be televised on Showtime.Its here. The big one, DeGale said. The best fighting the best. No. 1 against No. 2. Badou Jack is a very good fighter. He doesnt do anything spectacular, but hes a complete fighter. I have that X factor. Ive lost before, and Im not going to lose again. Ive come too far in my life to lose this opportunity.Jack offered his take on the matchup.?Im expecting a very tough fight from James DeGale, but Im very confident that Im going to win the fight and become the unified champion, Jack said.This is an incredible stage to be at Barclays Center and on Showtime, and Im going to take full advantage of it. Im ready to make my mark as the best in the division.Barclays Center is on board to host the fight, but only as long as the promoters can secure an insurance policy that the state approves. New York recently implemented legislation that dramatically changed the standards for insuring combat sports in the state, and so far, no policy is available for boxing events. New York has not hosted a boxing card since Aug. 21. Several dates for the remainder of 2016 were canceled.But Mayweather Promotions and DiBella Entertainment, co-promoters of the card, rolled the dice in the hopes the issue will be ironed out in time for fight night. Lou DiBella, founder and owner of his company, said he was confident the insurance issue would be.There is going to be a show here on Jan. 14, DiBella?said. We have lawyers and insurance people on it, and we will pay what needs to be paid. This announcement not only represents a fight announcement but a call to action to all boxing fans. Boxing needs your help in New York. We need to change or repeal this law that has really shut us down. Even if we can get really expensive insurance for Jan. 14, the small promoters and small fights and grassroots boxing have come to a standstill.Promoter Floyd Mayweather added his thoughts.We want to continue to do fights in this arena and bring championship boxing to New York City, Mayweather said. We want to give you great shows again and again.Wherever the fight takes place, it will be a high-level bout between the divisions elite.I think this will be an exciting fight. Im going to give it my all, and hes going to give it his all, Jack said. This is a bigger fight than anything weve been a part of. Hes going to turn it up, and so will I. Now its me and DeGale. All the other fights are in the past. Weve had different results against the same fighters. But none of that matters. Its time to fight.DeGale sounded equally confident.I believe Im the best in the division and one of the best in the world, DeGale said. Ive been waiting for this fight for a long time, and Im ready to get in there. I think in the last three fights Ive shown everything. I havent been getting the respect that I deserve. Ive beaten everyone put in front of me. This is what I love to do.Me and Badou Jack are two different fighters. I think Im going to beat him wide on the scorecards or stop him.Jack (20-1-2, 12 KOs), 33, who is from Sweden but is based in Las Vegas -- where he trains at Mayweathers gym -- and Englands DeGale (23-1, 14 KOs), 30, will each be making a third title defense. DeGale has all of his fights away from home. He won a vacant title against Andre Dirrell in Boston and defended in Quebec City and Washington, D.C.Jack said he respects that.DeGale is definitely one of the top guys in the division. Hes a road warrior, he said. He comes over here and fights guys in their backyards. He deserves a lot of credit. Thats why this fight is so big. We both want to be great.Junior lightweight titleholder Jose Pedraza (22-0, 12 KOs), 27, of Puerto Rico, will defend his world title for the third time in the co-feature when he takes on Mayweather protégé Gervonta Davis (16-0, 15 KOs), a dynamic 22-year-old from Baltimore who is taking a big step up in competition.They were also on hand Wednesday to begin the hype for their fight.I know Pedraza is a great fighter. People will say he has more experience, but I had 206 wins in the amateurs and a lot of titles, Davis said. Theres nothing Pedraza can bring to the ring that I havent seen before. Ive been battle-tested inside the ring and outside the ring. Hes going to have to kill me to retain his title. Im coming home a champion. Theres no doubt about it.Pedraza, Puerto Ricos only reigning world titleholder, was also filled with confidence.Im going to be ready for anything that Davis will bring into the ring. Im going to take care of business, Pedraza said. If Davis says he has to be killed to be beaten, then hes going to have to go down. Im undefeated, and I will remain undefeated after Jan. 14. I know Davis is a strong kid, but he isnt on my level. I am looking to dominate this fight. SEATTLE - Nick Franklin has been in the major leagues for less than a month but hes already starting to become one of the Seattle Mariners most-trusted hitters in crucial situations. Franklin delivered a two-run single off Oakland reliever Ryan Cook in the eighth inning to lift the Mariners to a 7-5 win over the As on Saturday night. After a three-run home run from Raul Ibanez tied the game at 5-5 in the seventh inning, Brendan Ryan led off the eighth with a single off Cook (1-1) and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Endy Chavez reached with a bunt single to put runners at the corners and took second on indifference. Franklin then came through with the single to left field to score Ryan and Chavez to give the Mariners the lead. His three hits and three RBI matched career-highs and it was the first game-winning hit of his career. "He likes being up in those situations," manager Eric Wedge said. "I just like the way he plays so aggressively. He does it offensively. He does it defensively. He does it on the basepaths. I just think youre a better baseball player when you play with no fear and thats what weve seen from him so far." Yoervis Medina (2-2) worked 2 1-3 innings scoreless to close out the game. With the three hits against Oakland, Franklins average is up to .295 with seven doubles, four home runs and 13 RBI in 25 games. His ability to hit in critical spots is something his teammates are already noticing as well. "For him to be able to stay calm in those situations and for him to be able to stay disciplined like that is huge," Ibanez said. "Hes a really heads-up player. He plays very, very mature. "Hes been very impressive." Franklin said he just tries to stay relaxed and not allow the pressure of the moment to get to him. "Im just trying to put something in play, give ourselves a chance to score anything," Franklin said. "Its better to put the ball in play than to have a swing and a miss trying to hit a long ball." In his first game back from the disabled list, Franklin Gutierrez homered to right-centre field in his first at-bat to give the Mariners a 1-0 lead. Following walks by Justin Smoakk and Henry Blanco, Franklin came through with a two-out single to score Smoak and extend the lead to 2-0.dddddddddddd Oakland got a run back in the third, on Eric Sogards sacrifice fly. The Mariners chased As starter Dan Straily from the game in the fourth inning. Straily lasted 3 1-3 innings — the shortest outing of his career — while allowing six hits and two runs. He walked three and struck out five. "He just didnt have a good release point today," As manager Bob Melvin said. "He was teetering from the beginning: it was what, six hits and three walks in just over three inning. He just had a rough start." Jed Lowries bases-loaded single scored a pair to give the As a 3-2 lead in the fifth. Oakland added on in the seventh inning. Lowrie doubled and the Mariners elected to intentionally walk Yoenis Cespedes. After a Brandon Moss struck out, Medina relieved and Josh Donaldson and Josh Reddick each singled in a run to give the As a 5-2 cushion. The lead didnt last long as Seattle rallied in bottom half of the inning. Ibanez delivered a three-run home run into the right field seats off Jerry Blevins to knot the game at 5-5. Aaron Harang went five innings allowing six hits and three runs for the Mariners. He walked two and struck out three. Notes: Gutierrez went 2-4 with an RBI and a run scored in his first game since being activated from the 60-day disabled list. The team placed OF Mike Morse on the 15-day DL with a strained right quad and designated OF Eric Thames to make room for Gutierrez on the 40-man roster. ... Ibanez has just 10 hits this season off left-handed pitchers but five have been home runs. Hes batting .196 with five home runs and 11 RBI against lefties on the year. ... Mariners 3B Kyle Seager extended his hitting streak to seven games with a single in the seventh inning. ... In 11 games against Seattle this season, Lowrie is batting .436 with two home runs and 10 RBI. ...Melvin said catcher John Jaso may be out until after the teams off-day on Monday with a left hand abrasion. "Its still bothering him so well see how he is tomorrow. Theres a distinct chance we may to go through the off-day." . ' ' '