Canelo will have to be at his best

Against Golovkin, Jacobs survived an early knockdown and rallied in the second half of the fight to engage the sport’s most feared fighter in a nip and tuck affair

It’s superfight time once more and I think this one is going to be close and controversial.

Everybody is high on Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and he probably sits in the third or fourth spot on most pound-for-pound lists.

Although I’ve forgiven him for his disappearing act against Floyd MayWeather Jr. back in 2013 on account of his solid performances against Gennady Golovkin--I still don’t think of him as the flagship fighter the sport of boxing needs.

He does a lot of things very well and is an excellent figher but there are a lot of flaws that a cunning, cerebral opponent can potentially exploit.

Enter Daniel Jacobs (35-2, 29 Kos).

CHAMP. A cancer survivor and a true champion in his own right, Jacobs’ only true advantage in this fight will be his versatility.

Against Golovkin, he survived an early knockdown and rallied in the second half of the fight to engage the sport’s most feared fighter in a nip and tuck affair.

During that fight, Jacobs demonstrated his ring savvy by shifting stances on several ocassions in order to create punching angles.

ALVAREZ. Canelo (51-1, 35 KOs) doesn’t walk down his opponents like GGG does, and he likes to spend the first few rounds figuring out his opponent.

His first hurdle will be getting inside the taller Jacobs--but with his excellent jab, he will eventually find his range.

He should be ready to counter Jacobs when he switches stances and exploit the latter’s spotty defense.

MY TAKE. Expect a battle of the jabs for most of the fight.

Canelo might hurt Jacobs early, but if the latter survives, he should be able to make adjustments and land some punishing shots on a tiring Canelo in rounds 7-9.

The championship rounds will be close, but I expect Canelo’s hands to be raised in victory in controversial fashion.

VERBATIM. ”Being that I also have speed, power, and ring IQ, that’s what I feel like is going to make me victorious.”--Daniel Jacobs (www.nypost.com)

LAST ROUNDS. Are on two lovely ladies, Vivian Bacolod and Christy Pepito who celebrate their birthdays this week. Cheers!

Every single fight marks history for me. He (Jacobs) is the second best middleweight in the world, so it’s another step in that direction, to keep writing my history. CANELO ALVAREZ