THE BIG-FIGHT VERDICT
Our view on the Golovkin-jacobs scrap, and the decision that has split opinion
WITH 35 consecutive inside-the-distance victories between them, not many people expected the much-anticipated clash between Gennady Golovkin and Daniel Jacobs – the two best middleweights in the world – to go the full 12 rounds. As it turned out, that is exactly what happened in front of a crowd of 19,939 at Madison Square Garden, as Jacobs came close to pulling off a significant shock and becoming the first man to defeat the fearsome “GGG”.
On paper, a unanimous decision win, including a knockdown in his favour, seems like a straightforward triumph for Golovkin. Yet this victory was anything but simple. In fact, many observers – myself included – felt that Jacobs had just done enough to edge the fight. Nonetheless, it was Golovkin who received the verdict, maintaining his status as the WBA, WBC and IBF middleweight ruler.
While the WBA and WBC belts were up for grabs for Jacobs, the IBF strap was not. This was because the New Yorker declined to participate in the sanctioning body’s check weigh-in, which takes place on the morning of any title contests staged by the organisation. This procedure prevents the competitors from scaling over ten pounds above the weight limit set for the bout. Instead of having to come in under the 170lb mark, Jacobs – a naturally bigger man than Golovkin – chose to forfeit his chance of claiming the IBF crown. Gennady, meanwhile, did meet the governing body’s weight requirements.
The result of this was that Jacobs, 30, enjoyed a noticeable size advantage on the night. According to Daniel, he was “about 175lbs”, although the reality is that he could have been even heavier than that. Golovkin – so used to having his way with opponents in a physical sense – therefore found it difficult to bully and manhandle Jacobs, which was one of the reasons why the champion endured such a difficult fight.
In addition to Jacobs’ imposing physique, as well as his speed of fist and foot, arguably the main cause of concern for Golovkin, 34, came from the challenger’s switch-hitting style. Whenever the American shifted from an orthodox to a southpaw stance, Gennady encountered issues, and was often left frustrated. Yet for all this, it was the Kazakh who was pushing the action for the most part. Pressing forward, cutting off the ring and firing out his fantastic jab, it was easy to see why the judges were impressed with his typically aggressive approach. It was simply a close, compelling and competitive clash that could have gone either way.
The first three frames were pretty tight, but Jacobs’ fast hooks caught the eye slightly more than the relatively subdued Golovkin’s stiff jabs. That all changed in the fourth, as a crashing right hook to the head decked Jacobs in the corner. Upon rising, hurtful jabs rammed into his face, but the Brooklyn man remained defiant.
Another crunching right hook hit the target from Golovkin in round five, but Daniel stayed upright this time. The next session was a productive one for Jacobs, who scored with a wide right hook, followed by a double jab-straight right combination.
Golovkin closed the distance effectively in the seventh, but had to swallow a solid short left hook in the subsequent stanza. The ninth saw Jacobs duck and weave to avoid his adversary’s heavy artillery, although a powerful right uppercut did get through from “GGG”.
Jacobs – now operating as a portsider – continued to employ useful upperbody movement in the 10th, with long jabs and right-lefts slicing through Golovkin’s guard. The Los Angeles-based champ responded by landing the more eye-catching shots in round 11, leaving the two boxers level at 104 points apiece on my scorecard going into the last.
Despite being visibly tired, Jacobs – his battle-scarred skin puffing around the eyes – left everything in the ring
‘I WANTED A CRAZY FIGHT, BUT HE DIDN’T LOSE CONTROL’
over the closing three minutes, earning him the session – and the fight – according to my scoring. However, all three judges saw Golovkin winning the bout – Max Deluca had it 114-113, while Don Trella and Steve Weisfeld tallied 115-112. Charlie Fitch refereed.
At the post-fight press conference, Golovkin described Jacobs as his “best opponent”, but also declared that he was always confident that he would get the decision. “I think I won. I felt very comfortable [when the result was about to be announced],” Gennady said. “I wanted a crazy fight, but he didn’t lose control. I had to fight a smart fight.”
Unsurprisingly, Jacobs did not agree with the judges’ view of events. “I do really feel like I won. I definitely think it could’ve been at least a draw, but I won’t complain,” Daniel stated. “This was a win-win situation for me. When you’re considered the underdog, and you go the distance and hurt the favourite, you earn respect. I’d love to do it again. If not, I’ll move forward. I’m confident that I can go on to be the best middleweight in the world.” Jacobs may have his sights set on ascending the middleweight throne, but for the time being at least, “GGG” is still the king. And while Golovkin is “ready” to give Jacobs a rematch, another 160-pounder is his preferred target: “My goal is all the belts in the middleweight division. [WBO titlist] Billy Joe Saunders is the last step of my dream.”
THE VERDICT Golovkin keeps his titles, while Jacobs’ stock rises in defeat.