Daniel Jacobs has a part of the middleweight championship. The “Miracle Man” from Brooklyn, and before 4.691 Saturday night at the Hulu Theatre at Madison Square Garden won the vacant IBF title with a split decision in a tight fight with Sergiy Derevyanchenko.
Derevyanchenko, with 12 prior professional fights got his first defeat and Jacobs got a flash knockdown at the end of round one. There were some good punches and Jacobs got rocked a bit in round two.
The 115-112 scores on two cards for Jacobs showed it was a close fight. The other card, 114-113, that was the difference. The middleweight division belongs to Daniel Jacobs and three others. The significant title is the WBC version that Canelo Alvarez owns and he is fighting for another title at the Garden December 15th, super middleweight.
So, on this next to last HBO boxing telecast, Daniel Jacobs accomplished his goal. Next for the champion is a possible fight with Alvarez and the beginning of unifying the titles. But there is business to be accomplished in seeking a new televised network, and most likely he will sign another deal with Matchroom Boxing and Ed Hearn.
DAZN is the new streaming network and promoter Ed Hearn is partnered with DAZN. And it all makes sense now, because Canelo Alvarez last week signed the richest deal for an athlete with Hearn and DAZN.
This win for Daniel Jacobs, who may not be the most exciting fighter in the division, certainly leads to a meeting with Canelo Alvarez.
“Absolutely, I think that’s the fight the fans want,” Jacobs said. “This would be a great fight for the fans. Let’s make the fight happen.”
If Alvarez does get another title in December, it is expected he will vacate and defend the middleweight belt. That’s how it goes in boxing and with DAZN and Ed Hearn, it makes a fight with Daniel Jacobs and Canelo Alvarez that more of a reality.
Lou DiBella who has some ties with Daniel Jacobs, co-promoter of this fight, said former champion Gennady Golovkin, dethroned by Alvarez last month, is also a possible opponent. Either way the division is looking good and headed to great fights in the new year,
“Absolutely with Canelo,” DiBella said. “That’s what the fans want. Lets make the fight. Triple G (Golovkin) absolutely. Danny is one of the top four guys in the division. Don’t think it will be tough to get a big fight. He’s an elite fighter.”
Maybe more of a technical fighter is Daniel Jacobs. There is that proficiency to scout an opponent. He did that again against an old friend. Derevyanchenko and Jacobs shared the same trainer and that ended when this fight was made. With exception of that first round, Jacobs (35-2, 29 KOs) jabbed and connected as the sixth round became a slugfest with punches shared.
But a fight with Alvarez could be different because Daniel Jacobs, who at times switched to southpaw, may not have that time to do that. Right now that does not matter because he will have time to enjoy this championship.
However the hype for a mega fight has started. More so, the middleweight division got that much better and Daniel Jacobs is no longer sitting in the middle or on the outside.
Machado Retains Title And Quick: Alberto Machado of San Juan, Puerto Rico retained the WBA Super Featherweight championship with a quick first round knockout. Three times Yuandale Evans, 20-2, went down before the fight was stopped at 2:25. Explosive was his second defense of the title.
“Right from the start I knew he couldn’t hurt me,” he said. “I was very confident and all my punches were working. I’m learning every day, getting better. My jab sets up power shots and I just let my power shots go especially once my opponent is hurt like tonight.”
Machado intends to fight again and as quick as the knockout punch. n“I want all the big fights,” he said. “I will fight anyone and want to fight again very soon.”
Hardy As A Champ: Heather Hardy in a rematch with Shelly Vincent dominated 10-rounds and won the vacant women’s featherweight title.
“My jab was so much better,” she said. “ I felt in control the whole fight.” Hardy also from Brooklyn improved to 22-0, with 4 KO’s.
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