British super middleweight James DeGale will be required to travel if he is to face Andre Dirrell for the vacant IBF super middleweight title because purse bids have gone in favor of the American.

“The bidders were Warriors Boxing Promotions and Matchroom Sport,” confirmed IBF publicist Jeanette Salazar. “The winning bid came from Warriors Boxing Promotions at $3,100,000.00. Matchroom Sport bid $2,105,000.00.

“The purse will be split 50/50. Warriors Boxing Promotion has until March 25, 2015, to submit executed contracts for this bout to the IBF and has 90 days to stage the contest.”

When Carl Froch vacated the IBF title, rumors began swirling that DeGale would meet Dirrell on home ground, possibly towards the end of April. Unfortunately for the 2008 Olympic gold medalist, negotiations failed to bear fruit and purse bid protocol became a necessity.

The Englishman, who is rated No. 4 by THE RING at 168 pounds, had hoped to lure Froch into an all-British collision, but “The Cobra” declined with the view to closing out his career on his own terms.

Dirrell, rated No. 8 at super middleweight, hails from Flint, Michigan, but a location for the projected DeGale bout remains unknown at this time.

Tom Gray is a member of the British Boxing Writers’ Association and has contributed to various publications. Follow him on Twitter: @Tom_Gray_Boxing