Middleweight champions Daniel Jacobs and Canelo Alvarez kicked off their three city press tour in New York City on Wednesday, February 27, 2019 to officially announce their Cinco De Mayo showdown.
Alvarez is in the second fight of his record $365 million, 11 fight-deal with DAZN. This showdown will have even more added meaning to it as Canelo and Jacobs will be looking to unify the division.
Jacobs will have his IBF Middleweight title at stake, while Canelo will have his WBC, WBA and Lineal titles on the line. The winner of this contest will be able to make valid claim as the best Middleweight in the world. Many wondered if this matchup with Jacobs would come to fruition, but as we have grown accustomed to in the career of Canelo, he was more than willing to accept the challenge.
Count Jacobs as one of those that believed this fight would not happen so soon.
“I had my doubts,” said Jacobs to the media on Wednesday in New York. ‘They know the kind of threat I am in the division so I was surprised to see that they actually accepted the challenge, but big props goes to Canelo for accepting this challenge.”
Before this fight came to be, Jacobs was adamant about how he feels as though he is the best in the Middleweight division. He also believes that the odds, which currently have him as a 3-1 underdog, are based more so on the big name Canelo possesses.
“I do think his name does play a factor in those odds,” said Jacobs. “Its not that I don’t think he is a great fighter because he is, but if you are a true student of the game then you would understand that styles make fights and my style is completely wrong for him.”
Getting any fighter to reveal their game plan for a fight is always a difficult task. Although Jacobs would not reveal to the media what exactly he intends on doing to win the fight he did talk about the advantages that he holds over his opponent.
“I’m much taller than Canelo and I’m much bigger as well,” said Jacobs. “GGG was bigger than Canelo and I’m bigger then GGG. Rocky Fielding is the biggest guy he has faced, but he does not have my skill set.”
For Canelo, once he signed his deal with DAZN the fans grew worried that he would no longer be interested in fighting the best out there. That notion has never been a part of Canelo or his mindset. He loves the opportunity to face a dangerous fighter in Jacobs because these are the types of fights the fans want and it is also what he needs to establish himself in the history books.
“I like the challenges, I like to challenge myself,” said Canelo during his round table media discussion on Wednesday. “The satisfaction I get in these big, tough fights to give the fans the good fights that they always want. It gives me that peace of mind that I am doing these big fights.”
No matter what, Canelo seems to always want to make the biggest fights for the fans. As for his actual matchup with Jacobs, Canelo acknowledged that he will be a difficult opponent.
“He is very difficult, very talented,” said Canelo. “Look, he moves, uses his legs, combinations, speed, he changes guard but look that is why we took this fight. We took this fight because we know it is a difficult challenge. That is what we like and we know we can win.”
The stage is now set. Both fighters will have two more press stops, which will take place in Mexico City and Los Angeles.
Both men showed the other much respect for their abilities, but they both left no doubt in terms of what they believe will happen come fight night. They both expect to win. On Cinco De Mayo weekend, arguably the two best Middleweights in the division will clash to end the debate and move one step closer to becoming undisputed.
