By Allan Fox: Former IBF & WBA middleweight champion Daniel Jacobs says he wants to fight Jermall Charlo. Jacobs (37-4, 30 KOs) used to be one of the best fighters in the 160-lb division, but after getting a big payday against Canelo Alvarez, his career has slowed to a crawl.
Jacobs has fought so seldom over the last five years; the younger boxing fans have no idea who he is, and Jermall wouldn’t benefit much from fighting him, and it would seem pointless using him as a tune-up.
Since the Canelo fight four years ago, Jacobs has fought just three times, beating Gabriel Rosado by a controversial twelve round split decision, stopping the over-the-hill Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and losing to John Ryder.
Both fighters have been out of the ring for an extended amount of time, taking it easy, and it would be an ideal tune-up for WBC 160-lb champion Charlo (32-0, 22 KOs) to get him ready to fight undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez next May.
Jermall needs to show fans & Canelo that he can make it through a training camp without pulling out due to his outside-of-the-ring problems destabilizing him.
It’s unlikely that Jermall will want to risk his massive cash-out fight against Canelo by fighting Jacobs, who didn’t look half bad for the first four rounds against Ryder before gassing out and spending the last rounds clinching nonstop. That was 18 months ago.
Jacobs looking for the right fight
“I’m not beefing with anybody, but everyone knows I’ve been wanting for years to fight Jermall Charlo,” said Danial Jacobs to ESNEWS.
“That’s the fight that I still want. I don’t know what’s going on with it. I’m ready for that fight, mentally & physically. We’ll see what happens in the future.
“I got one or two more in me. I’m looking for the right fight. I ain’t looking for no step aside, no fill-in fights. It’s been a few years since I’ve been calling out people, and I haven’t received any feedback. I’m just waiting for the right fight, but like I said, the time will come.”
The nice paydays that Jacobs used to get in the past are probably not available to him now, thanks to his inactivity and poor performances against Ryder, Rosado, Canelo, and Chavez Jr.
If Jacobs had stayed active after his fight with Canelo, he’d be a good option for fighters like Caleb Plant, David Benavidez & David Morrell Jr to use as an opponent.
“You got to remember who was the first one to punk him,” Jacobs said in reacting to Jermall being slapped by Caleb Plant. “With respect. That’s my man, that’s my son.
“I think it’s a good fight. I’m looking forward to a good outcome. I know the fans are going to win on that one. I can’t pick a winner, but both guys are talented,” said Jacobs about the Canelo Alvarez vs. Jermell Charlo fight next month on September 30th.
“That’s a good fight. I like both guys,” said Jacobs about the David Benavidez vs. Demetrius Andrade contest. “I’ve known Boo Boo for such a long time, and I know what he’s capable of. I still don’t know if we’ve seen all of Benavidez yet. He’s an extremely talented fighter. So that’ll be a telling tale for both fighters, I feel like.
“I love Crawford. I think he’s the most innovative, creative, most all-around put-together fighter that there is today. He’s definitely pound-for-pound,” said Jacobs when told that Terence Crawford wants to go up to 168 to challenge the Canelo Alvarez vs. Jermell Charlo winner.
“So if he wants to do something like that, he should take it serious and know that he can do some damage.
“I’m just glad that boxing is cracking down on the sport. Obviously, we put our lives on the line. We want to be as healthy and safe as possible,” said Jacobs, reacting to heavyweight Robert Helenius testing positive for a banned substance.
“I guess the penalties are just due, and whoever goes through that type of scenario has to pay whichever way the commission sees fit.
“Wilder-Joshua, I can’t choose one. Both guys I love, both guys I respect. My heart goes out to the best man.
“Sugar Ray Robinson, Sugar Ray Leonard, Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson. The last one, I would probably say someone from Brooklyn. I represent Brooklyn all day. We got tons of great talent,” said Jacobs when asked to name his top five fighters of all time. “Or Mark Breland.”
