Golovkin prevails in his toughest test
NEW YORK — Exhausted beyond anything he’d previously felt in the ring, Gennady Golovkin could barely lift his collection of title belts.
Danny Jacobs thought they should have been handed to him, but Golovkin was awarded the decision after their superb 12-round middleweight championship bout at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night.
Both fighters are knockout artists, yet this one went the distance — the first time in 24 fights that Golovkin didn’t score a KO. The Kazakh won 115-112 on two judges’ cards and 114-113 on the other.
“I give Gennady a 7.5 or an 8 out of 10,” said his trainer, Abel Sanchez.
“The other guy’s athleticism was very strong tonight, and
Scoreboard
Gennady’s accuracy was not quite as pinpoint as we wanted.”
In by far the toughest fight of his stellar career, Golovkin often was stymied by Jacobs switching to a southpaw stance. But a series of hard rights throughout the bout were enough — barely — to eke out the win.
“Daniel did a very good job,” said Golovkin, who improved to 37-0.
“He is my favorite fighter now. I can’t destroy him.”
Jacobs, nicknamed ‘Miracle Man’ after he overcame bone cancer in 2011-12 to win 10 straight fights, thought he won quite handily.
“I thought I won it by at least two rounds, minimum,” said the American. “But I did feel like I had to win the 12th round just to make sure.” Golovkin, a world champistunned previously unbeaten
Jacobs won the final round on since 2010, is 5-0 at the GarRoman ‘ Chocolatito’ Gonzaon two of the three cards, but it den, which he calls a “second lez, knocking down the Nicawasn’t enough, perhaps home.” raguan in the first round, because he was knocked down But Jacobs, from nearby bloodying his face with an in the fourth — which went to Brooklyn, tested him more unintentional head-butt in the Golovkin 10-8 on all three than anyone has. third, then winning a majority cards. On the horizon for the harddecision for the WBC super
Still, with Madison Square hitting Kazakh could be a flyweight championship. Garden reverberating from showdown with top contender Both men went to the hospichants for both fighters, no Canelo Alvarez if the Mexican tal for observation after the one could be sure of the outwins his fight in May against vicious fight. come right until the final Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Even though Sor Rungvisai punch. “Of course I am ready to was docked a point in the sixth
“This is boxing,” the 34-yearfight Canelo. Of course I want round for another head-butt old Golovkin said. “I wasn’t that fight,” Golovkin said. “I — there were several in the thinking that I needed the am like an animal for that brutal bout — he never backed 12th round to win the fight. fight.”off. This was my first test at 12 But there’s another option, He relentlessly attacked the rounds. I needed a quality he admitted. cut over the right eye of Gonzfight, not just the 12th round.” “I will give Danny Jacobs a alez, who clearly was ham
Jacobs is 32-2 and lost his chance for a rematch, for pered by the blood streaming WBA crown to Golovkin, who sure,” said Golovkin. down his face. already owned the WBC, IBF In the featured prelim, Thaiand WBO titles. land’s Srisaket Sor Rungvisai