By Brian Kenneth Blackwell: The Middleweight match-up between undefeated Daniel Jacobs 16-0(14 KO) and George Walton 20-3(12 KO), will be aired on ESPN2 Friday Night Fights, live from Desert Diamond Casino in Tucson, Arizona. Both fighters will be making the cross-country trip from their home state of New York to gain national attention on the up-and-coming Friday Night Fights.
Jacobs, hailing from Brooklyn, New York, is attempting his 4th victory of 2009, and is coming off a 12 round lopsided decision over Mike Walker, a bout in which he was a fill-in for James Kirkland, who was removed from the bout due to a gun charge. Jacobs is still relatively untested, with arguably only two noteworthy victories in Jose Varela (who he knocked out in the 2nd round), and Mike Walker, both of which he fought in his last two fights. Still, he is already being compared to a young Felix Trinidad, as he has shown flashes of greatness in recent bouts with his quick hands, and combination punching power.
The much older Walton (already 35), another fellow New Yorker, hailing from Harlem, New York, could be seen as meeting the crossroads of his career. With a good record of (20-3), 12 of his wins coming by knock out, and having never been knocked out, he still could be seen as a journeyman boxer due to his length of inactivity between fights, and having having a knack to lose everytime he finally steps into the limelight against a formidable opponent. After beginning his career at age 19 as an amateur, he went on to win the New York Golden Gloves, and then began his professional career at 11-0. After winning his last 6 fights by knock out, he was matched with journeyman Derrick Whitley, then (16-17-1), and suffered his first defeat, losing by a wide margin.
In his very next fight, he was matched with an up and coming 25 year old in Jerson Ravelo, who came in at (11-0), a bout which was aired on Showtime Boxing. Once again Walton came up short. George won his next five matches, before losing another decision to Fulgencio Zuniga in 2004. This would be the last loss of his career to date. In January of 2009, Walton scored a unanimous decision over a game (12-0-1) Jose Angel Rodriguez, a bout which decided the lightly regarded New York State Middleweight Title.
Walton fights coming straight forward. He plods back and forth, throws an occasional solid jab, followed by a wide swinging right, which does carry come power (if it hits, but rarely does against solid opposition). He holds his gloves up against his temples, and leans forward, similar to Montell Griffin, which I believe leaves him open to left hooks, and uppercuts. He also has a tendency to get stung often by opponents with quick jabs. Unfortunately for him, Jacobs possesses a solid jab. At age 35, time is against him, and at 5’7, and even though he has an even reach with Jacobs, look for him to have difficulty getting inside.
Jacobs, a showcase fighter for ESPN, just came off a thrilling one-punch KO of Jose Varela, a bout that was aired on ESPN2 Friday Night Fights, and a unanimous decision over a solid fighter in Mike Walker. Though he has a soft record, his last two fights have shown future potential. He showed brilliant knock out power in his flash win over Varela, and good discipline when he stepped up in class to fight Mike Walker.
Some would consider this to be a step back down in level of opposition for Jacobs, as he is in need of experience rounds before being on a level worthy of a title shot. Expect Walton to use his experience to control the ring, and pressure Jacobs against the ropes and attempt to outwork him. With Jacobs creative combinations, hand speed, potential knock out power, and Walton’s inability to move his head to avoid quick jabs, I do not anticipate the fight going the distance.
Remaining fight card:
Jermell Charlo vs. Federico Flores, 8 rounds, junior middleweights
Deontay Wilder vs. Kelsey Arnold, 4 rounds, heavyweights
Keith Thurman vs. Marteze Logan, 6 rounds, welterweights
Seth Mitchell vs. Alvaro Morales, 6 rounds, heavyweights
Hylon Williams vs. Kadaphi Proctor, 6 rounds, junior lightweights
Isaac Hidalgo vs. Robert Guillen, 6 rounds, junior featherweights
Annette Agredano vs. Jessica Sanchez, 4 rounds, female junior featherweights
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