Tons of Change for Daniel Jacobs
For former middleweight champion Daniel “Miracle Man” Jacobs (35-3, 29 KO’s), life recently has been characterized by a great deal of upheaval. First, in May, he lost a somewhat anticlimactic prizefight against Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (53-1-2, 36 KO’s). Losing that bout cost him the chance to collect the three middleweight titles on the line. On top of that, he paid an addition toll in a substantial amount of respect from the fans.
A ROCKY 2019
A generous segment of boxing fans took Jacobs’s flat performance as indicative of his waning interest in the sport. Following the tough loss, Jacobs would descend into a bit of a media blackout. During this period of reflection and solitude, the Miracle Man very quietly split with his long time trainer Andre Rozier. In recent interview conducted by SecondsOut, he went into detail about this and much more.
“At the end of the day, I still have another man in the opposite side trying to hurt me, trying to stop my career, trying to stop me from feeding my family. So I have to protect myself and I like to give my fans a great show as well. So that motivation factor as far as bringing 100% is not a worry for me. But you got to understand that the love for the sport is probably a bit different.” ~Daniel Jacobs, former middleweight champion
Now Jacobs has formally announced his return against career underachiever Julio Cesar Chavez Jr (51-3-1, 33 KO’s) on December 20. Even this newly announced event has undergone some significant changes. Originally the bout was to take place in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand. The match-up has since moved to a new location in Phoenix, Arizona.
This was all due to Chavez Jr refusing to take a random drug test issued by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Even though Chavez was suspended by the NSAC, the fight is still a go since it was relocated.
FALLEN COMRADE
When the Miracle Man slides into the ring with Junior, he will do so with a very heavy heart. Apparently Patrick “All Day” Day, who passed as a result of in-ring injuries acquired in his October 12 bout with Charles Conwell, was a good friend of Jacobs. Not only was Day a close associate, the Miracle Man was the inspiration for Day to even enter into the field of professional boxing. Subsequently, Jacobs has taken his death extremely hard.
“Head and heart in a heavy place, I mean to be able to continue to strive and be happy in a sport that I know brought so much pain. In a sense, even though he loved what he did, it was the actual thing that took him out. And it’s unfortunate because the love and relationship that we had, that he had with so many different people, you know, it’s one of those sad, unfortunate situations that you can never live life the same. When you have someone who impacted your life like that, you know. Patrick meant so much to me in so many different ways.”
A NEW DAY FOR THE MIRACLE MAN
On top of the fans skepticism, changing trainers and deceased friend, when Jacobs tangles with Junior he will be fighting as a super middleweight. It will mark the first time that the Miracle Man has contested at 168 since his March 2014 bout with Milton Nunez. By moving up eight pounds Jacobs believes that he will be a much stronger and more explosive fighter.
Let him tell it, struggling to make the 160lbs limit was huge part of his flat performance with Alvarez. Only time will tell if this move actually translates into a more dynamic in-ring showing.
“So now I’m moving up to 168lbs where I can give myself freedom to, you know, not be weak inside the ring and be able to give my all. I’m sure the fans will appreciate it because they’re going to see the Daniel Jacobs that they knew they can get! I hear a lot of fans say, ‘you know sometimes it’s just he’s missing something,’ or you know ‘he has to give a little bit more.’ And it’s that oomph that they’re expecting, and I have that grit. And I feel like if I’m 100% inside the ring, weight-wise, nutrition-wise going inside the ring. Just physically in the best shape that you guys will be able to see that. I think 168lbs will allow me to do that.”
By: Bakari Simpson
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