Canelo Alvarez is boxing’s biggest name, but Danny Jacobs aims to prove why he’s the sport’s most skilled pugilist.
Danny Jacobs is truly a miracle.
More than a moniker, “Miracle Man”, Jacobs has clawed his way back into relevance after surviving bone cancer. He courageously assumed full control of his career, aligned with powerful advisor Al Haymon and signed with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Sports.
Since going on a three-fight win streak, after his loss to Gennady “GGG” Golovkin, Jacobs won the IBF Middleweight strap and is now where all the middleweights that matter live: the DAZN streaming platform.
This weekend, Jacobs will battle the face of boxing, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and could become boxing’s poster boy in one night.
“I just feel as if the thirst for this fight is at an all-time high,” said Jacobs at the final press conference. “We are only three days away from a mega fight and it’s such a privilege to be here right before this mega showdown. This is the opportunity of a lifetime for me and I’m mostly excited to get in there to show the world that I am the best middleweight of my generation.
“I finally have an opportunity to prove it, to go against Canelo Alvarez. You guys are going to see fireworks, masterful boxing, skills, dedication, persistence, and grit, most importantly.”
Pressure
Canelo Alvarez has learned a lot since his one loss to Floyd Mayweather, Jr. back in 2013. Since that lesson, he’s dusted off a murder’s row of marquee names in boxing: Alfredo Angullo, Miguel Cotto, James Kirkland, Amir Khan, Erislandy Lara, and GGG.
His second fight with GGG showed that Alvarez understands how to box and bang, where the Kazakh slugger missed the mark more than usual against “Cinnamon”.
“I’m a fighter that’s fought all the styles,” said Canelo at the final press conference. “What he brings on Saturday night is going to bring the reaction out of me to counter whatever he brings.
“In boxing, anything can happen. That’s including the knockout. If it’s there, trust me, I’m going to go for the knockout. I don’t care if he’s bigger, stronger, it’s never bothered me. I have the capability. I have the experience to overcome that and more.”
After securing the richest bag in boxing history with DAZN, Alvarez knows he’s today’s supreme pugilist star and doesn’t take it for granted.
Jacobs at one time was NYC’s heir apparent to the boxing throne. The Brooklyn native has all the tools and the confidence to be the best in the game. The question is, will he get caught by a Canelo bomb or box and squeeze out the victory?
Canelo Alvarez doesn’t get knocked out. Even Floyd Mayweather couldn’t achieve that. However, looking at the boxing clinic Mayweather gave, Canelo did provide a blueprint.
Box, move, counter. This is the strategy that Jacobs must employ with precision for 12 rounds. It definitely won’t be as easy as it sounds.
Going toe-to-toe will result in either a draw, like the first Canelo vs. GGG fight or with Jacobs getting KO’d. He has been floored once by Dmitry Pirog back in 2010 and although he considers himself a different fighter, it could happen.
““I think mentally, Golovkin started out as the most devastating power puncher and boogeyman of the division,” said Jacobs. “So mentally, he was tougher. Physically, this is much harder preparation because Canelo is very agile, he’s very fast, his offensive onslaught is at an all-time high.
“It’s a drastic difference. I thought I won the GGG fight and I assure you I will win this fight without controversy.”
The fact remains, whoever wins this fight advances in the court of public opinion.
With an international promoter, a streaming service flushed with cash, the bright lights of Gotham City and the boxing performance of his life, Jacobs could become boxing’s next biggest star.
