The GGG vs Jacobs fight will bring with it the kid from Kazakhstan who has been climbing in popularity, proving himself more invincible with each new fight. Daniel Jacobs is the anticipated underdog in the match that will take place on March 18 at Madison Square Garden, in the home city of the Brooklyn born Jacobs.
The “Miracle Man” Jacobs hopes to prove that he can once again overcome tough challenges both in and out of boxing. After overcoming bone cancer, Daniel continued his winning streak. Since that one loss he has won his last 12 fights, and is confident he can also come out victorious against a competitor like Golovkin. Gennady has yet to lose one professional fight, and has breezed through his last 23 fights.
Trainer Gary Lockett spoke to Boxing Scene about what GGG’s reputation alone does to boxing opponents.
“Facing Golovkin is a very intimidating proposition. You see from his opponent’s reactions to the first time he connects, it sends shock waves through their system and they don’t fancy another taste.”
GGG will risk three middleweight belts on Saturday. The World Boxing Council, World Boxing Association, and International Boxing Federation middleweight titles will be picked up by the winner. Gennady could soon become one of boxing’s biggest personalities if he can finally pull a big fight.
Part of the problem with a heavy hitter is that it isn’t easy to get opponents to fight you and risk their reputations. When GGG challenged Floyd Mayweather, Floyd asked him to first fight light heavyweight Andre Ward, a tall order for a middleweight. Floyd also thought that a fight with GGG wouldn’t be lucrative, especially as he seeks a historic payout for the Conor McGregor fight.
Trainer Peter Fury explained to Boxing Scene what a boxer needs to do to overcome Gennady’s onslaught.
“An excellent skill set can always overcome power in my view. It needs a fighter who can get their feet in the right places, tie him up and frustrate him. If you continually catch him with relaxed, clean shots as he comes in, Golovkin will gradually become demoralised from the accumulative effect.”
This is exactly what gives a fighter like Daniel Jacobs an opportunity to win the three belts. Since the bigger fighters stay away from Golovkin, fighters like Daniel can capitalize on the opportunity it opens up. Daniels is fearless after coming back from cancer. It is exactly the type of fearlessness that will give him the needed mental strength to withstand an opponent like GGG, a boxer who absorbs his opponents hits so he can return them with three times the impact. GGG vs Jacobs has a chance of surprising the boxing world with an upset.
Lockett also talked to Boxing Scene about how to exploit GGG’s willingness to take chances.
“Golovkin does get clipped. He just gambles on hitting opponents back twice as hard. Mayweather always struck me as more invincible because no one could hit him, he took no risks. Golovkin does give you a target.”
GGG vs Jacobs could be a more exciting match than people expect after seeing Golovkin decimate his previous opponents. Jacobs won’t necessarily suffer the same fate. Jacobs thinks he would have an undefeated record, too, if not for a fight in 2010 that he lost to the powerful Russian fighter Dmitry Pirog. Jacobs said he wasn’t mentally ready or focused at the time due to the death of his grandmother, someone he held very close. But he said the experience made him stronger, just like the comeback he made from his own major health issue.
GGG vs Jacobs will see a local hero take on an internationally feared fighter, but that hometown support could give Daniels yet another miracle.