A Critical Analysis of Daniel Jacobs Performance versus Sergio Mora
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
At age 29, Daniel Jacobs has realized a whole different level of fight ability. He is in a class with Gennady Golovkin, Saul Alvarez, Andre Ward, and Saul Alvarez, a complete notch above the rest of the competition. Jacobs is a super class fighter. Golovkin will turn 35 years old next May, at that point within a year of the last fight of the late Carlos Monzon.
This reporter cannot state for sure whether GGG trainer Abel Sanchez and others are playing a waiting game. As it now stands, GGG versus Jacobs is beginning to look better than GGG versus Alvarez. If Andre Ward beats Sergey Kovalev, Jacobs could also move up to 168 pounds, where 37 year old Felix Sturm, the WBA Super World Super Middleweight champion, could definitely be beaten by Jacobs.
Jacobs as a fighter is in a whole other class right now. In a rematch against Sergio Mora this past weekend in the main event in Reading, Pennsylvania, in defense of his World Boxing Association World Middleweight title, every punch Jacobs threw was thrown with intensity. Mora’s energy and heart were good, and he tried to evade Jacobs, who cut off the ring very effectively. Mora could not deal with Jacobs’ power or pressure. Fans lost track of the number of times Mora hit the canvas (five times in all). Mora impressed with his inner strength and ability to want to continue, despite being outclassed by Jacobs.
Jacobs had broken down Mora completed by the time referee Gary Rosato had seen enough when he called off the bout. Mora was absolutely done at that point. The stoppage was a show of compassion more than anything else. Jacobs switched stances often, and Mora, who was desperately trying to avoid the power shots thrown by Jacobs, was never rally in a position after the first round to get set and throw any meaningful punches or counters of substance.
GGG is who Jacobs wants. There’s an old song by The Rolling Stones which goes ‘You Can’t Always Get What You Want’. Jorge Sebastian Heiland of Argentina, British Middleweight champion Chris Eubank Jr. (if he gets by Tommy Langford in Wales on October 22), or WBO World Middleweight champion Billy Jo Saunders (who is scheduled to defend his WBO world title at Manchester Arena on October 29) are possible candidates for Jacobs if a bout with GGG does not materialize.
At 32-1, Danny Jacobs has put the difficult moments of his life behind them, a knockout and a medical condition, and reached the point where his natural talent and hard work are shining through. For the 160 pound unification bout to occur between GGG and Jacobs, the right amount of money has to be put on the table to make it right. With the departure of Floyd Mayweather Jr. from the boxing scene, Daniel Jacobs versus GGG would seem to be the next blockbuster Las Vegas bout if Canelo does not get GGG first. Time will tell.