By Tim Royner: Daniel ‘The Miracle Man’ Jacobs could be facing John ‘The Gorilla’ Ryder in his next fight in late May. [@MichaelBensonn]. Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn is interested in making the Jacobs vs. Ryder fight. This would be the second fight for former IBF/WBA middleweight champion Jacobs (36-3, 30 KOs) since he moved up to the 168-lb weight class.
There’s also the possibility that 33-year-old Jacobs could face Billy Joe Saunders or Callum Smith for their super middleweight titles. Whichever of the two don’t get the Canelo Alvarez fight on May 2. If neither fighter gets it, then Hearn will look to match Smith and Saunders against each other. We’ll then likely see Jacobs fight Ryder (28-5, 16 KOs).
Jacobs too risky for Callum and Saunders right now
It’s in Hearn’s best interest NOT to have Saunders or Callum fight Jacobs in 2020, as the two both will remain options or Canelo Alvarez. Jacobs has already fought Canelo and lost last May, so he’s got nothing to lose. But Callum and Saunders have everything to lose in facing Jacobs, because if either of them get beaten, then they can forget about ever getting a fight against Canelo.
That’s probably why Hearn is so eager to put Jacobs in with Ryder. It won’t mess up Callum or Saunders’ chance for a Canelo fight as long as Jacobs is fighting other guys like Ryder in his Matchroom stable. Ryder has NO chance of getting a Canelo fight unfortunately, so that makes him basically expendable. In some respects, Ryder would be the sacrificial lamb in facing Jacobs, who will have a big advantage in experience and punching power.
That’s not to say that Ryder will necessarily lose to Jacobs, but he’ll be a HUGE underdog and it’ll take a premium effort from him to get the win. Unlike Callum, Jacobs WON’T be weight drained at 168, so Ryder can’t count on Daniel being listless and weak.
The money Callum and Saunders would make against Canelo would be good retirement money to pave their golden years. Fight Jacobs could take that possibility away from them.
Ryder will be big underdog against Jacobs
Jacobs vs. Ryder isn’t the fight that fans want to see from Daniel, but he’s moved to a new division at super middleweight. There are fewer name fighters at 168, and Jacobs’ options are limited to him facing guys that fight on DAZN.
In that case, Ryder is perfect for him. The U.S boxing fans will tune in to watch Jacobs on DAZN just based on what he’s done in the past. He’s built enough of a fan base nationwide in the States to attract fans, even when he’s facing an opponent they’re not familiar with.
In Jacobs’ last fight, he stopped Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in the 5th round on December 20 on DAZN in Phoenix. It was a frustrating thoroughly disappointing fight for the boxing public to watch, as Chavez Jr. fought well briefly, and then shelled up suffered a broken nose in the 4th. After round 5, Chavez Jr. quit on his stool.
Fans were furious at ringside for Chavez Jr. quitting. They wanted to see him at least go out on his shield like a warrior or have the referee stop the contest.
Ryder is coming off a career best performance in losing a controversial 12 round unanimous decision to Callum on November 23 in Liverpool, England. ‘The Gorilla’ Ryder fought his heart out, dominating an exhausted Callum in the second half of the fight with his nonstop pressure, and his superb inside fighting.
Jacobs can’t afford to lose to Ryder
The judges scored it for Callum 116-112, 117-111 and 116-112. The fans saw it going the other way with Ryder doing enough to edge it. What was interesting is Callum and his trainer Joe Gallagher saw no need for them to give Ryder a rematch despite the fact that the fans worldwide saw him losing. As a result, Callum’s popularity has taken a big hit from that fight.
If Ryder pulls off an upset of Jacobs, then the ‘Miracle Man’ may need to think about retirement. The good news for Jacobs is he made a ton of money in his fight against Canelo Alvarez last year in getting $12 million, so he won’t be hurting after he leaves the game.
It won’t be the end of the world for Jacobs to lose to Callum Smith, since he’s viewed as the #1 super middleweight in the division right now. But losing to Ryder, that would be unforgivable, and a sign that Jacobs needs to move on or go back down to 160, if possible.