On Saturday, October 27 at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden, Daniel “Miracle Man” Jacobs (35-2, 29 KOs) pulled out a thrilling split-decision win over the previously unbeaten Sergiy Derevyanchenko (12-1, 10 KOs).
Jacobs won the IBF Middleweight title with two judges scoring it 115-112 in favor of him and the other in favor of Derevyanchenko 114-113.
If it looked as though Daniel Jacobs and Sergiy Derevyanchenko had done this before it’s probably because they have. This spectacular display of boxing was just 12 rounds of more than 300 they have shared in the ring sparring.
Jacobs and Derevyanchenko have known each other for years–they share the same manager Keith Connolly as well as their trainer Andre Rozier. Rozier cornered Jacobs for this fight.
“He’s a true competitor,” said Jacobs. “I knew exactly what I was getting into when I took this fight. I take my hat off to him. Nothing but respect. I knew it would be hard, and I had to dig deep. I used my range and boxed on the back foot. Those are my best attributes.”
With new hardware around his waist, what is the right fight for Daniel Jacobs to pursue?
Canelo Alvarez (50-1-2, 34 KOs)
Obviously this is the fight that Daniel Jacobs wants. In both the post-fight interview and press conference, Daniel Jacobs voiced his desire to fight Canelo Alvarez next.
After Alvarez’s win over Golovkin, he made the decision to move up to Super Middleweight. Canelo is expected to return to the 160-pound division after his fight in December and when doing so Jacob’s wants that challenge.
“The fans want it,” Jacobs said. “Now I have the strap, let’s do it. I’d rematch GGG, but he’s not a champion. I want the champs.”
This would be one of the most well-matched fights in a long time. The styles of both men would make for a very technical fight yet likely have exciting flurries of intense action.
It would be interesting to hear each of their game plans going into this fight. This fight goes to decision but I honestly don’t know who would come out victorious.
Gennady Golovkin (38-1-1, 34 KOs)
Though Jacobs expressed that he wants the champs and Golovkin is no longer one, I can’t imagine him passing up the opportunity to avenge his lose.
I personally would like to see this fight happen because the first bout between the two was so close. This win goes to whoever learned the most from the first fight.
Golovkin would have to make some changes going into this fight if he wants come out with the win over Jacobs again.
The great display of body work in the Derevyanchenko fight may pose a threat to Golovkin if this rematch were to take place.
Jermall Charlo (27-0, 21 KOs)
There has been plenty of trash talking between these two. Charlo has an interim title defense against Willie Monroe Jr. December 22 but this fight is a viable option for both following that bout.
This is a fight that Jacobs is interested in and I see it more likely to happen next than a rematch with Golovkin.
“This feud that we’re having, it’s being built,” said Jacobs of the fight. “He’s fighting Willie Monroe in his next fight, so he has his obligations right now. That victory is not promised. So he has to look good, and hopefully, if he gets that victory, we can talk about that in the near future. You know I want that fight. That’s a fight that’s been brewing for some time. If there’s any personal fight that I want, yeah, it’s that fight.”
I believe this would be a very competitive and close fight. This would be a big step up in competition for Charlo but I think he is more than ready for a challenge of this magnitude.
I give the edge to Jacobs in this fight, likely a close decision win but Charlo continues to surprise me in every fight. Let’s hope this fight happens in the near future.
Header photo by Marilyn Paulino/RBRBoxing
