The former world champion retired in 2019 after losing to Chris Eubank Jr at London’s O2 Arena.

But he will now be making comeback after signing with Conor McGregor’s Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC).

A BKFC statement confirmed: “BKFC will return to Manchester, UK, on September 27, with an even featuring the newly signed James DeGale, a former boxing world champion.”

BKFC has also signed a number of other high-profile fighters from the boxing and MMA worlds.

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Ex-boxing world champions Austin Trout and Jamel Herring have put pen to paper on respective deals to fight, while MMA veterans Yoel Romero, Derek Brunson and Thiago Santos are also set to compete.

DeGale has kept a relatively low profile in recent years after hanging up his gloves, despite being one of Britain’s most successful boxers of the 21st century.

He shot to fame by winning Olympic gold in Beijing in 2008, and turned professional the following year.

The super-middleweight southpaw suffered a devastating setback when he lost to long-term rival George Groves in just his 11th fight, but he bounced back to put himself in title contention and won the vacant IBF belt by beating Andre Dirrell on points in 2015.

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DeGale made two successful defences of his title before facing Badou Jack in a unification clash .

In a back-and-forth contest, DeGale knocked down Jack in the first round but was then hurt himself late on before the fight was scored a draw.

DeGale lost his title in his next fight against unfancied American Caleb Truax, but got his revenge in a rematch five months later to regain his title.

Another knockout win followed, but DeGale ended his career with a loss to Eubank Jr where he was knocked down twice by his rival.

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