By Michael Montero – This Saturday inside the famed Madison Square Garden in New York City, Gennady “GGG” Golovkin and Daniel “Miracle Man” Jacobs will battle for middleweight supremacy. Both men will be facing their best opponent to date as professional prize fighters, with the WBC, WBA and IBF titles on the line. What does each fighter have to do in order secure the victory? Let’s take a look.
Daniel Jacobs 32-1 (29KO)
Too many fans are selling Jacobs short in this contest. The Brooklyn-bred WBA middleweight titlist is coming off the best training camp of his career, having worked in Oakland with his longtime trainer Andre Rozier and technical consultant Virgil Hunter, who’s helped mold Andre “SOG” Ward into one of the finest craftsmen in the sport. That additional guidance has the cancer survivor beaming with confidence ahead of his greatest career challenge. Jacobs weighed in at 174.8lbs for the WBC mandatory 30 day weigh-in. He was 167.8lbs at the 7 day weigh-in and appears on target to make 160 comfortably for this contest.
Jacobs is taller, longer, younger, faster and more athletic than Golovkin and will look to utilize his faster feet and long jab to keep him at bay. For Jacobs, distance, timing and angles will be the key; he must keep this fight in the center of the ring and look to tie Golovkin up any time he finds his back against the ropes. He must punch in combination, not going for the knockout but punching with enough authority to get his opponent’s respect. “Miracle Man” should use his reach to move Golovkin to where he wants him, throw accurate punches, and spin off. If Jacobs can keep GGG at a distance and box in the center of the ring, he can pull the upset. It will take the fight of his life.
Gennady Golovkin 36-0 (33KO)
Trainer Abel Sanchez has his signature fighter prepared for twelve full rounds. Golovkin has shown a tendency to get careless and be hit too easily in past fights, but he knows that could spell trouble against Jacobs. Look for GGG to work behind the jab and apply pressure on his opponent from the opening bell, backing Jacobs into the ropes and attacking the body to slow down his movement. Despite his reputation, Golovkin is not a true “one hitter quitter” type of puncher. He scores stoppages by chopping his opponents down.
For GGG, body punching will be the key, as well as working behind a consistent, ramrod jab. He cannot get lazy and dare Jacobs to hit him; he must stalk his prey with unwavering focus. The WBC, IBC and WBA “super” titlist is yet to be defeated as a pro and has faced the much better opposition. If he uses his underrated ring intelligence and experience to fight in a disciplined, controlled manner, he should retain his titles and make it look easy.
After a close, competitive four rounds fought on even terms, the tide will begin to turn in the middle rounds. The relentless pressure applied by the fighting pride of Kazakhstan will begin to wear down the New Yorker heading into the late rounds. Look for Golovkin to score an accumulation stoppage in the ninth round of a thrilling fight.
Michael Montero can be found on YouTube, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @MonteroOnBoxing.