It’s time for the middleweight showdown between “GGG” Gennady Golovkin and Danny “Miracle Man” Jacobs. The stage is set for Saturday night at Madison Square Garden, and anticipation is high. Both fighters have punching power and high KO ratios, good boxing ability and confidence in being able to win. How either of them will win, and how this potentially explosive fight will unfold is examined by Steve Forbes, former two time world champion, who offered an expert analysis.
The styles of both Golovkin and Jacobs will combine to bring excitement fight night.
“GGG has a seek and destroy style,” Forbes said. “He wants to inflict punishment, and reminds me of Kostya Tszyu, who was a technical, assertive bully. One mistake and it could be over.” The Jacobs style by comparison, Forbes said, can be defined as classic. “ Jacobs has a classic American style, that was developed by good competition in the US amateur program, with the boxer puncher style, with emphasis on boxer.” Other ingredients to their styles Forbes observed, is Golovkin has power in both hands, and has developed an authoritative jab, and Jacobs possesses hand speed and combinations put together with power.
To secure a win against Jacobs, Golovkin will need to press the action and get him out of his game.
“GGG will have to get Jacobs to stand still and fight with him more often than box,” Forbes said. “He will have to pressure Jacobs, make him expend a tremendous amount of energy to keep him off of him, actually changing his ability to have a structured game plan.”
Frustration and smart boxing will be keys for Jacobs being able to upset Golovkin, Forbes explained.
“Jacobs has to come out not playing nice,” he said. “I mean box and move to confuse Golovkin, and once he sees he’s frustrated by waving him forward, sit down and throw some hard combinations, then back to movement until he sees him start to back up.” Forbes also hinted Jacobs composure will be important. “Also for Jacobs,” Forbes continued, he needs to have the mental calmness to understand he will be hit hard, but to stay focused and fire right back and then move. Bully fighters don’t like to land huge shots and then have the opponent fire right back at them.”
When the bell rings, and both fighters engage, Forbes sees the action as back and forth, with good exchanges and the best of both warriors.
“I see the fight starting with a little bit of posturing from both guys,” he said, but neither can avoid the inevitable.
“Both guys are well aware of the other and the questions– Golovkin will know that people said: ‘if Jacobs lands the shots Brook did what will happen?’ And Jacobs knows Golovkin can whack with both hands.” Knowing what he’s going against, and has faced in the past, Forbes said Jacobs is ready for this moment. “I think with Jacobs experiencing the toughest fight of his life, and getting through it, I honestly don’t see any fear.” “I think this fight may go back and forth,” he continued, “and Golovkin is an absolute monster but, in my opinion I think Jacobs will fight like a champion, especially coming off that huge Peter Quillin win.”
Prediction wise, Forbes is upset minded. “I may have to call an upset. This fight reminds me of Vince Phillips win over Kostya Tszyu in an action fight, but, to be honest….all the fans win.”
Leave a Reply