By Peter Silkov
Daniel Jacobs (30-1, 27koes) defends his WBA world middleweight title against Peter Quillin (32-0-1, 23koes) on Saturday night, in a fight that fans are hoping is a early step towards the middleweight division gaining a unified world champion. The situation with the world middleweight titles is confusing to say the least. Jacobs is the ‘Regular’ WBA world middleweight champion, while Gennady Golovkin is the ‘Super’ WBA world middleweight champion (in addition to being the IBF title holder.) Then you have Saul Alvarez who holds the WBC middleweight title. His future opponents have not been addressed, whether he will face Golovkin, or what weight he will be allowed to fight, is still a mystery. Most people view Golovkin as the world number 1 at middleweight already, but an official unified title with all the belts remains Golovkin’s goal.
Both Jacobs and Quillin have so far kept away from any path that would lead them to a fight with the GGG man. The winner on Saturday night will have the option of finally going ahead and taking part in a series of fights, which will conclude with an undisputed World middleweight champion. There are already plans for whoever wins Saturday’s fight to take on the winner of the upcoming clash between Andy Lee and Billy Joe Saunders, on December 12, for Lee’s WBO world title. Before that will happen, Jacobs and Quillin have to sort out their differences on Saturday night, December 5, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Aside from the question of the world ‘title,’ which Jacobs is defending, this is a genuinely even contest between two well-matched middleweights, who may well deliver one of 2015’s better fights. Quillin and Jacobs are evenly matched in height and age, and have similar boxer-puncher styles. They also both reside in Brooklyn, New York, although Quillin originally hails from Chicago. One of the biggest differences between the two boxers is experience, while it is Jacobs who is the defending title holder, Quillin, who formerly held the WBO title before vacating it, has fought at the higher level. Having already faced fighters such as Antwun Echols, Roland Wright, Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam, Gabriel Rosado, and Andy Lee, with his only career blemish coming with a draw against Lee in April this year.
Jacobs’s biggest test so far has come against Sergio Mora in his most recent contest. Unfortunately that fight was cut short in the 2nd round, when Mora was unable to continue due to an injured ankle, but not before both men had hit the deck in the 1st round.
This is one of the reasons why this fight has the makings of a good scrap, both Jacobs and Quillin have been floored in previous fights. Quillin, most recently in his fight against Lee. With each man possessing a dangerous punch, this is a fight that could break out into a slugfest. With the recent big middleweight match-ups of Gennady Golovkin vs David Lemieux and Miguel Cotto vs Saul Alvarez falling short as competitive attractions, fans will be hoping that in the case of Jacobs vs Quillin, the fight will surpass its rather muted build up. This is one of those fights which could end early or go into the later rounds. Both fighters are likely to start off using their boxing skills, before going for the power punches. We may see a chess match for a couple of rounds before things get really interesting.
Daniel Jacobs has a compelling life story after recovering from cancer and winning his WBA middleweight title, but the odds seem to be against him this Saturday. This is certainly a fight that either man can win, but with both men so well matched, Quillin’s extra experience against higher quality opposition is likely to be a crucial advantage.
The Boxing Glove’s pick for this fight is a Quillin win either by points, or a late KO.
Also sharing the bill with Jacobs and Quillin are featherweights Jesus Cuellar (27-1) and Jonathan Oquendo (26-4) who will be fighting for Cuellar’s WBA World Featherweight title. This is another evenly matched fight, which might steal the show.
The under card to Jacobs vs Quillin, has some interesting fights, including the returns to the ring of former world champions, Chris Algieri (20-2) and Yuri Foreman (32-2.) Algieri, having his first contest since his competitive defeat at the hands of Amir Khan, takes on Eric Bone (16-2) at welterweight, while Yuri Foreman returns to the ring after a two year absence, against Lenwood Dozier (9-9-1.)
Aside from the question of the world ‘title,’ which Jacobs is defending, this is a genuinely even contest between two well-matched middleweights, who may well deliver one of 2015’s better fights. Quillin and Jacobs are evenly matched in height and age, and have similar boxer-puncher styles. They also both reside in Brooklyn, New York, although Quillin originally hails from Chicago. One of the biggest differences between the two boxers is experience, while it is Jacobs who is the defending title holder, Quillin, who formerly held the WBO title before vacating it, has fought at the higher level. Having already faced fighters such as Antwun Echols, Roland Wright, Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam, Gabriel Rosado, and Andy Lee, with his only career blemish coming with a draw against Lee in April this year.
Jacobs’s biggest test so far has come against Sergio Mora in his most recent contest. Unfortunately that fight was cut short in the 2nd round, when Mora was unable to continue due to an injured ankle, but not before both men had hit the deck in the 1st round.
Daniel Jacobs has a compelling life story after recovering from cancer and winning his WBA middleweight title, but the odds seem to be against him this Saturday. This is certainly a fight that either man can win, but with both men so well matched, Quillin’s extra experience against higher quality opposition is likely to be a crucial advantage.
The Boxing Glove’s pick for this fight is a Quillin win either by points, or a late KO.
Also sharing the bill with Jacobs and Quillin are featherweights Jesus Cuellar (27-1) and Jonathan Oquendo (26-4) who will be fighting for Cuellar’s WBA World Featherweight title. This is another evenly matched fight, which might steal the show.
The under card to Jacobs vs Quillin, has some interesting fights, including the returns to the ring of former world champions, Chris Algieri (20-2) and Yuri Foreman (32-2.) Algieri, having his first contest since his competitive defeat at the hands of Amir Khan, takes on Eric Bone (16-2) at welterweight, while Yuri Foreman returns to the ring after a two year absence, against Lenwood Dozier (9-9-1.)
Watch the weigh-ins and face-offs here:
Copyright © 2015 The Boxing Glove, Inc. Peter Silkov Art. All Rights Reserved. Peter Silkov contributes to www.theboxingglove.com
Alvarez vs Jacobs is a scheduled fight for 4 May, 2019. For the pumped fans who cannot make the venue can enjoy Canelo Alvarez vs Daniel Jacobs live online via FastestVPN.
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