Daniel Jacobs looks for clarity!
IBF middleweight champion Daniel Jacobs has a lot of influence on the future of the division and the short term future of DAZN. In recent interviews by both Jacobs and Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn, there needs to be a plan of action regarding his future.
The biggest issue in question is whether he will sign with the DAZN streaming service. As of now he is signed exclusively with Matchroom.
Canelo and Golovkin Primed for 3rd Fight
Hearn would like for Jacobs to join DAZN to hopefully setup a fight with unified WBA/WBC champion Canelo Alvarez. This would seem like a no brainer except for the fact that Alvarez has scheduled a fight on December 15 to fight at super middleweight against WBA regular champion Rocky Fielding. Canelo has also indicated that if he wins he may not return to middleweight.
The second piece of this puzzle is former unified champion Gennady Golovkin. He and his promoter K2 are also looking to fight at super middleweight against WBA super champion Callum Smith. Golovkin also is expected to sign with DAZN to position himself for a third Canelo fight.
The Alternative
If both Alvarez and Golovkin follow through on their perspective plans that leaves the current IBF champion out in the cold. Alternatively, Jacobs has been very vocal about fighting interim WBC middleweight champion Jermall Charlo, however, he has a fight scheduled against Willie Monroe December 22. Should he win, this clears the way for them to fight.
To conclude, Jacobs has no incentive to sign with DAZN if Hearn can’t guarantee him a fight with Canelo or Golovkin. If Jacobs doesn’t sign with DAZN it prevents them from having control of all the middleweight titles. It also hinders Hearn in future middleweight signings as well.
The first domino to fall in all of this will be the outcome of Charlo vs Monroe. If Charlo wins and Jacobs pursues that fight, it puts Alvarez and Golovkin on the back burner. This situation is definitely worth monitoring.
By: Corey Cunningham
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