We are getting closer and closer to the Middleweight showdown between WBA, WBC and Ring magazine champion Canelo Alvarez (51-1-2, 35 KOs) and IBF champ Daniel Jacobs (34-2, 29 KOs). The T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas Nevada, will be the scene of this contest on Cinco De Mayo.
This isn’t just one of the biggest fights in all of boxing, but it’s also the biggest fight in the career of Jacobs.
The argument could be made that both Jacobs and Canelo represent the two very best fighters that the Middleweight division has to offer. For this training camp Jacobs wanted to do things slightly differently.
“I wanted to keep this training camp in New York,” said Jacobs to a group of reporters during a recent workout. “I just wanted to be able to be around all of the positive energy and be around my hometown.”
The need to switch things up a bit for this fight is understandable. Jacobs has fought and defeated numerous great fighters. In 2017, he took on then undefeated unified Middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin. It was a contest that saw Jacobs suffer defeat, but it was an experience he learned from.
Coming into this matchup with Canelo, Jacobs plans on using everything he learned in not only in his contest against GGG, but also in his bouts against Peter Quillin, Sergiy Derevyanchenko and others.
“I’ve grown a lot since that GGG fight,” said Jacobs. “I’m a much better fighter.”
Jacobs has absolutely grown leaps and bounds since 2017. He is now a world champion, and isn’t simply a puncher, but also an excellent boxer. The IBF champ has not scored a knockout win since his 2016, seventh-round stoppage win over Sergio Mora. He has however scored a knockdown in each of his past three contest.
“Going 12 rounds in my past four fights was great for me,” said Jacobs. “It just allowed me to build on that experience of going the full distance. I had grown accustomed to knocking guys out. The power is still there but sometimes it’s good to go the distance but as far as this fight goes I plan on getting the stoppage against Canelo.”
Although Jacobs, is shooting for the knockout victory he still has a ton of respect for Canelo and his place in the sport.
“I think Canelo is definitely in the top 10 pound for pound,” said Jacobs. “He can also take a shot, but with that being said he has never faced anyone quite like me before.”
Those words ring true. On a recent media call, Canelo admitted that Jacobs is the most unique opponent he has ever faced.
“Jacobs is a very unique opponent, unlike anyone I have ever faced,” said Canelo. “It will be a difficult style too figure out but I have seen every style possible. Eventually I will impose my style to win the match.”
On May 4, 2019 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, Daniel Jacobs will have his chance to stake his claim as the very in the Middleweight division.
“Canelo, can’t beat me,” said Jacobs. “Come May 4, I will be victorious.”
