Miracle Man or Melt Down? Danny Jacobs versus GGG Madison Square Garden Preview

By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent

 

New York, NY (March 17th, 2017)– Gennady Golovkin alias GGG, 36-0, 33 knockouts, Los Angeles, California, via Karaganda, Kazakhstan, squares off against Daniel ‘Miracle Man’ Jacobs, 32-1, 29 knockouts, Brownsville, Brooklyn, New York, for the universal unified World Middleweight title. The World Boxing Association Super, World Boxing Council, International Boxing Federation, and International Boxing Organization will be at stake in the Madison Square Garden main event on March 18, 2017.

 

24-0 southpaw Billy Jo Saunders of Hatfield, United Kingdom, holds the World Boxing Organization World Middleweight title belt. 48-1-1 Saul Canelo Alvarez holds the WBO World Super Welterweight title belt and is a former WBC Middleweight title holder. 37-3 David Lemieux of Montreal, Quebec, Canada holds the WBO Inter-Continental and WBC Continental Americas Middleweight titles after knocking out Curtis Stevens. 17-0-1 Immanuwel Aleem of Richmond, Virginia, holds the WBC Silver Middleweight title. 18-0 Tommy Langford of Birmingham, United Kingdom, holds the British BBB of C Middleweight title. 23-0 Maciej Suleki of Warsaw, Poland now Brooklyn, New York. 24-2-2 Erislandy Lara, a Cuban out of Houston, Texas, holds the IBO and WBA Super World Super Welterweight titles. These individuals are seen as being among the most legitimate challengers in the ring today for the winner of GGG versus Jacobs. Canelo Alvarez is the big money draw.

 

Middleweight riches will now go to the fighter who puts his titles on the line to fight Alvarez. GGG versus Canelo is where the money is, unless Jacobs can seize the moment and defeat GGG. The odds say it won’t happen, but who knows? Miracle man or melt down? That is the question. Soon, boxing fans and critics will have their definitive decisive answer to the curious question. GGG has to move fast. He is not getting any younger.

 

Both men have power. GGG has reputation, of course, but has still not proven to be the big name exciting draw which the likes of Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler, Thomas Hearns, Carlos Monzon, Roberto Duran, or Sugar Ray Robinson were in the middleweight division past. Golokvin, who will turn 35 years old on April 8, 2017, is getting older under trainer Abel Sanchez. The young hungry wolves are waiting to pounce if he sticks around too long. Thus far, other than two hard fought eight round decisions in 2008, the GGG armor has revealed no flaws. GGG has proven to be superbly prepared at 160 pounds.

 

Jacobs, on the other hand, was knocked out in the fifth round by Dmitry Pirog in Las Vegas, Nevada, in July 2010. Pirog won the WBO World Middleweight title and eventually finished his career at 20-0. Jacoba also had to survive osteosarcoma, and had to recover his health from a point where it was believed he would never walk again, let alone fight again. Having survived so much, can Jacobs now survive GGG?

 

He can. A lot more is involved in this crossroads bout.

 

Jacobs can win this bout, and he does not need a knockout or a miracle. He needs to be able to win a technical war with GGG. The bout could feature several knockdowns which could affect scoring in an extremely close bout. As evidenced against Quillin, Jacobs has the power to knock GGG out. However, GGG has the power to knock out Jacobs.

 

At this point in their respective careers, a 15 round bout, which is no longer allowed, would have been more in order for a fight of this magnitude. Absent that possibility, GGG will either win this fight by knockout or stoppage, or not. Jacobs will get the decision at Madison Square Garden, and set up Jacobs versus Canelo. It’s that simple. GGG cannot take Jacobs out at this point. Jacobs has the stamina, heart and courage to break GGG down, and fight an Emile Griffith workmanlike technical bout at The Garden. GGG won’t go, but he can be outworked, in what will prove to be the highest quality fight in the 160 pound middleweight division.

 

Jacobs is predicted to defeat Golovkin by 12 round unanimous decision. This will not be GGG’s last hurrah. GGG has not peaked financially. GGG is very likeable, as is Jacobs. However, neither holds the mega star $$$ draw power a Floyd Mayweather Jr., Canelo Alvarez or Andre Ward does. This particular bout is magical, and perhaps the winner will display a certain magic. GGG might finish his career unbeaten but still in obscurity in terms of financial success. GGG is the most powerful middleweight champion since Gerald McClellan. Jacobs will has to hit with the middleweight power of a Julian Jackson or Rodrigo Valdez to rock GGG’s universe. Should be interesting. GGG has to take Jacobs out to secure the Canelo mega fight later in 2017 or in 2018.

 

Madison Square Garden Undercard Predictions, Starting with Prelim Bout to Main Event

Roman Gonzalez Win 12 Wisaksil Wangek, WBC World Super Flyweight title defense

Carlos Cuadras Win Majority Decision 10 David Carmona, super flyweight eliminator

Ryan Martin Win 10 Bryant Cruz, WBC Continental Americas Lightweight defense

Andy Lee Win 8 KeAndrae Leatherwood, Middleweights

Scottish Jay McFarlane Win TKO 4 Matt McKinney, Heavyweights. Watch the prospect!

Serhii Bohachuk Win KO or TKO in 2 or 3 rounds, Yasmani Pedrozo, Welterweights

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