Danny Jacobs the Miracle Man
By: Francisco Martinez
In 2012 Daniel Jacobs suffered a health scare that had him in his “death bed” as he himself would describe his run in with cancer. Even after staring death in the face Daniel Jacobs doesn’t shy away from talking about his experience “I can’t really put it into words, I mean, when you grow up as a child you think you’re superman, you think you’re a superhero, you’re never gonna die, you’re never gonna have any challenges like that, you’re not gonna get old, you’re never gonna get sick. At that very moment I was kind of on my death bed. That’s when it struck me, I realized that I was human and I realized that I was no different from any other man and that was one crazy, major feeling right, but it changed my perspective on life. It changed my perspective about what I do. It changed my perspective about giving everything my all.
I use to take shortcuts as an amateur and as an early professional because I was just that good. I use to never want to run. My trainer use to call me, get me up and get me to do certain things. I do those things on my own now. If anything I call my trainers like where you guys at? Let’s get going because my mentality is different. So when you face things like that you ultimately come out a totally different person”
Daniel Jacobs will be squaring off with the most avoided fighter in boxing today. In the balance would be Jacobs “regular” WBA 160lbs title and Gennady Golovkin’s “super” WBA version making the winner the sole owner of the WBA belt along with the WBC, IBF & IBO titles Golovkin currently holds. Golovkin is coming into this fight with 23 consecutive knockouts, TKO’s or stoppages and 33 career knockouts. Jacobs however is not intimidated or discourage about facing the Kazak powerhouse. If anything he embraces the all too familiar underdog role with no hesitation “I’m privileged to be able to have this opportunity. To be able to face the best. 9 times out of 10 there’s guys who at the top of their careers don’t take on tough challenges take on the number 2 or even the number 3 (some) guys try to milk the game in a sense as much as they can.
Credit to Gennady for taking this fight. I have the upmost respect for him and his team but come March 18th I think the questions that everyone has about me will be answered that night. Who I truly am. What I bring to the table and just how great I can be. I haven’t come this far to give up. I’m scared of no man. I fear nothing. My back was against the wall so many different times and I’ve excelled and this is no different. It’s a tough challenge but it’s one that I’m looking forward to. You guys are gonna want to catch this fight. I don’t want to take up too much of your time because obviously fight night is the time that we talk. You know we let our fist do the talking to entertain you guys.
For however long it last I’m sure it will be an entertaining fight. Once again I’m grateful for this opportunity. I’m grateful for those who supported me and allowing me to have this phenomenal dream of a fight. Fighting the best versus the best. I wouldn’t want to have it any other way. 8 to 1, 9 to 1 underdog, I wouldn’t want to have it any other way”
Daniel Jacobs is fully aware of who he is and what he is capable of acknowledging the criticism he is receiving upon the making of this fight. Critics want to know exactly what Daniel Jacobs said, is he capable of competing with Gennady Golovkin. Can he make Golovkin show something different. Can he make Golovkin look human after bulldozing through 36 rivals in dominating fashion. However the question also lays upon Daniel Jacobs ability to take Golovkin’s power. Trainer Andre Rozier doesn’t seem to understand the questioning of Jacobs ability to take a punch yet alone one from Golovkin. He explains “look at it like this. Some of the
best in history have been knocked down and they get up and it’s even worse. (Felix) Trinidad, you knock him down, he gets up, he burns your ass out. Some of the best have went down, that means nothing. The object of boxing is to strike without being struck. Second object is if you’re struck, is to get your ass up and start striking again. Being on the canvas is not a crime. If you get hit you might go down. He’s been on the canvas twice. I know (of) a lot of fighters that have been on the canvas a whole lot of times. But he (Jacobs) has always risen to the occasion”
Outside of the ring Daniel Jacobs has won the biggest battle anyone could have possibly won however as a pugilist he feels there’s more to accomplish than he already has. In his professional boxing career Jacobs feels there’s unfinished business “I didn’t accomplish my ultimate goal. The fact that I’ve had so many challenges outside the ring, to come back, I wanted to make sure at least if I was to go out, it wasn’t going to be on a doctor’s term it’s gonna be on my terms” he goes on to say only thing that can match up to his triumph over cancer is a win over Gennady Golovkin.
Goin into March 18th Daniel Jacobs & his trainer Andre Rozier will have contribution to their camp & preparation by 2011 BWAA Trainer Of The Year, Virgil Hunter. Who has a long history with Abel Sanchez & Gennady Golovkin. A mental move by Jacobs team in advance we would imagine has struck some kind of points on the scoreboard already. If the opportunity presents itself Daniel Jacobs told BoxingInsider that he wouldn’t mind acquiring knowledge from Andre Ward himself. As we all know the story, Ward & Golovkin camps have been in a heated back & forward after failed negotiations during Ward’s stint at the number 1, 168 pounder in boxing.
Daniel Jacobs fully aware of boxing’s relevant positioning he plans to explore all avenues & boulevards in order to dethrone the 160lbs kingpin. Tune in March 18th live on HBO PPV from the Madison Square Garden in New York for what will be the crowning of the best middleweight in boxing and surely make a strong case for pound for pound #1 with rumblings of Andre Ward potentially retiring.
Follow Golovkin vs Jacobs via #gggjacobs
