By Brian Kenneth Blackwell: Daniel Jacobs 16-0(14 KO) vs George Walton 20-3(12KO) JULY 26, 2009 ESPN2 FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS
Round 1
Seconds into the round, and already the size difference is apparent. Walton lunges forward, backing Jacobs into the ropes with his straight jab. He fires away with lunging shots, but misses badly. Jacobs lands a few combinations as he circles the ring. Walton continues to be the aggressor.
10-9 Jacobs
Round 2
Walton knocked to the canvas with a sweeping right. Appeared to be more of a push, but the referee ruled it a knock down. Walton up quickly and did not appear to be hurt. Jacobs is landing the jab, and it is beginning to set up combinations. Wow, straight right, straight left, right uppercut! Jacobs is landing at will. This is so bad that I cannot see this going another round! Walton looks stunned.
10-8 Jacobs
Round 3
Walton gets wobbled again a minute into the round. Jacob landing combinations at will. Walton has no movement. He will not move his head. He will not circle the ring. Jacobs lands to the body. Straight right, left hook lands for Jacobs.
10-9 Jacobs
Round 4
Walton backs Jacobs against the ropes and lands to the body; then lands an uppercut to the chin. Jacobs gets himself away from the ropes, and begins landing his combinations as he circles the ring. If Walton does not start moving his head, I may have to start referring to him as Chagaev!
10-9 Jacobs
Round 5
Jacobs is teeing off on Walton now. Walton has not landed a meaningful punch in some time now. Jacobs on the other hand is in full command. Walton stays in the corner and is taking a beating.
10-9 Jacobs
Round 6
Walton finally lands a jab. Jacobs circling the ring. Walton places himself back in the corner. He is exhausted. The end could be near. At this point, the fight really should be stopped. Walton spent the entire second half of the round taking a pounding against the ropes.
10-8 Jacobs
Round 7
Walton comes out and lands with a straight right. He lands it again. Jacobs fires back landing three uppercuts. Walton keeps coming forward though. Jacobs fires two jabs, then an uppercut; all landing. At the end of the round Jacobs lands a body shot that makes Walton whince in pain.
10-9 Jacobs
Round 8
Walton gets stunned by a straight right. He could go at any time. The referee finally steps in between the two fighters, and stops the fight at 1:59.
Jacobs landed 286 punches, and hands Walton the first KO loss of his career. After the beating he took in this fight, Walton should seriously consider hanging up the gloves and calling it a day. He absolutely had no answers in this fight. It strongly resembled the Pacquiao/De La Hoya bout. Walton would go minutes without even throwing a punch, while Jacobs would fire relentless shots from several angles. Jacobs on the other hand, proved tonight that he is something special. His fighting style reminds me alot of Paul Williams in how he uses his size to keep his opponent at a distance, and how he makes up for his lack of power with relentless punching, which accumulate and overpower the other man.
Earlier in the evening, Jerman Charlo scored a TKO against Federico Flores in what many would consider an extremely early stoppage in the 8th round. I had Charlo up by only one round, in contrast to Teddy Atlas, who had all but one round scored in favor of Charlo. Rising star in the heavyweight ranks Deontay Wilder scored the 6th stoppage of his young career, landing a huge right that sent Kelsey Arnold onto his back where he was counted out. Deontay has scored a KO in all six of his pro fights after winning the bronze medal in the most recent Olympics.
Undefeated welterweight prospect Keith Thurman scored a TKO victory over Marteze Logan. It was the 9th KO in 9 professional fights for Thurman; Marteze being considered soft as his record fell to 26-37-2. At this point, I believe both Wilder, as well as Thurman are ready for more formidable opposition, as they showed nothing new to their ever-growing fan base on this evening.
During the broadcast, Oscar De La Hoya was interviewed, and was asked about the upcoming bout between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Juan Manuel Marquez. Oscar commented that it was speculative that Floyd’s motives to come back and continue fighting was purely motivated by money, and that he was indeed having financial troubles. Oscar added that it very well may be Floyd’s pride, and his desire to remind the ever forgetful boxing world of how great he was, or still may be, that is driving him to make his return. He then closed the interview by jokingly stating that he is comfortable in his retirement with no plans to return to the ring.