With much of the 168lb. Super-Middleweight division
currently waiting to see what current undisputed world champion Saul “Canelo”
Alvarez will do next, whether it be in the division or a potential move up to
the Cruiserweight division, an interesting encounter will take place on
Saturday, February 12th in London, England between two fighters who
likely have intentions of facing Alvarez down the road. This observer is
speaking of the Super-Middleweight encounter between former IBF Middleweight
world champion Daniel Jacobs and top Super-Middleweight contender John Ryder.
Jacobs, is unbeaten since moving to the 168lb.
Super-Middleweight division and he looks to go for his third victory in the
division in this fight against Ryder. Some may recall that the last person to
beat Jacobs in the ring was Saul Alvarez, who defeated him in a unification
bout when the two met as Middleweights in 2019. Obviously, both due to the
position Alvarez holds as the current undisputed champion of the
Super-Middleweight division as well as the financial incentives involved, Jacobs
would likely welcome a potential rematch with Alvarez with open arms if the
opportunity were to become available to him.
In his last fight in November 2020, Jacobs scored a close
twelve round split decision victory over former world title challenger Gabriel
Rosado in a fight where some felt Rosado did enough to earn the victory. With
no fights in 2021, Jacobs now looks to resume his push towards another world
title shot against John Ryder.
Much like Jacobs, Ryder, a longtime contender and former
world title challenger, is coming into this fight off of two consecutive
victories since his last loss, which was a challenge of then WBA
Super-Middleweight world champion Callum Smith in November 2019. In his last
bout in November of last year, Ryder scored a fifth round stoppage of Jozef
Jurko.
While it has become cliché of this observer to say in
recent times, the bout between Jacobs and Ryder is a “Crossroads Fight.”
Although some might argue that a loss for either fighter at this stage in their
respective careers might be what leads to possible retirement from the sport,
yours truly does not necessarily see things in that context.
A reason for this is even though for the moment the
ultimate end goal for just about anyone in either the 160lb. Middleweight and
168lb. Super-Middleweight divisions is to secure an opportunity to challenge
Saul Alvarez for what is now an undisputed world championship in the
Super-Middleweight division, which would obviously entice several top
Middleweights to move up if such an opportunity is available, the
Super-Middleweight division could very well be heading for a period of
transition. It is indeed true that Alvarez accomplished what is for a variety
of reasons very difficult to achieve in becoming an undisputed world champion
and did so in an unthinkable short period of time, winning a world
championship, fulfilling his mandatory title defense obligations, and going on
to successfully complete the process of unifying the division in the span of
one year. Having accomplished that goal however, Alvarez could well be looking
to what might be his next challenge, which could take him out of the division
as he might move up to perhaps attempt to duplicate his accomplishment at
168lbs. in a higher weight class.
If this does indeed prove to be what will happen,
obviously, there will be plenty of room to maneuver in the Super-Middleweight
division as the four world championships that comprise the Undisputed
Super-Middleweight championship of the world in it’s current form will all become
vacated, which will obviously open up opportunities for fighters that are in
similar positions as Jacobs and Ryder. There is also the one world championship
of the International Boxing Organization (IBO) that was not involved in Alvarez’
unification process, which remains active in the division so there could very
well be an opportunity for Jacobs, Ryder, or several other contenders to secure
an opportunity to fight for the IBO world championship as well.
In simple terms, a loss for either Jacobs or Ryder does
not necessarily mean their career might be over with a plethora of
opportunities most likely opening up in the near future in the division. As for
what might occur when Jacobs and Ryder get in the ring to do battle, it is an
interesting clash of styles.
Some may recall many years ago when he began his career
that Daniel Jacobs began with a string of quick knockouts, which obviously made
everyone from the Boxing fan to those like myself who cover the sport take
notice. While Jacobs does still have the punching power that is capable of
ending a fight at any time, as his career has evolved, he has proven to be a
fighter that can do a bit of everything and should not be known strictly for
his punching power. Jacobs did not necessarily look his best in his last bout
against Gabriel Rosado and it will be interesting to see whether a lengthy
absence from competition will lead to a better performance in this fight as he
will enter this bout with a record of 37-3, with 30 Knockouts having registered
a 75% career knockout percentage.
Meanwhile, John Ryder is a pressure fighter who has
scored seventeen knockouts in his thirty career wins and will enter with a
record of 30-5, with 17 Knockouts with a career knockout percentage just shy of
49% in his career. Although Ryder has endeared himself to many fans for always putting
forth a determined effort, some might say that he has failed each time he has
tried to step up against the top fighters in either the Middleweight or
Super-Middleweight divisions. With another opportunity against a notable
opponent in a former world champion in Jacobs, this is another chance to show
that he belongs among the top Super-Middleweights in the world.
The fight plan for Ryder appears on paper to be a simple
one, try to pressure Jacobs from the outset and look to implement elements of
what Gabriel Rosado was able to do in Jacobs’ last fight. Obviously, this could
prove to be easier said than done, but the goal for Ryder should be to prevent
Jacobs from being able to find a consistent rhythm in this fight. Although
Jacobs does have an edge both in terms of punching power and overall experience
at or near the top of the sport, if Ryder can disrupt Jacobs’ rhythm, he could
find success if he is able to extend the fight into the middle and late rounds.
It is crucial that Ryder be defensively responsible at
all times in this fight as Jacobs is a skilled boxer and excellent counter
puncher and if he approaches him in either an overly aggressive or reckless
manner, Jacobs is the type of fighter who can and will take advantage of
whatever openings are presented to him. With their being debate as to the
outcome of Jacobs’ last fight at least in the eyes of some, Ryder should also
be prepared for a fighter who could be looking to make a statement early and if
Jacobs enters this bout with the intention of scoring a knockout, we could be
in for a short, but potentially explosive fight.
Although Daniel Jacobs is likely going to be a betting
favorite going into this bout, an element in which he will not have an
advantage is where this bout will be taking place. London, England, where Ryder
has a significant following and will likely have the crowd support come fight
time as Jacobs has traveled to the United Kingdom to face Ryder on essentially
his home turf. One should keep in mind that Jacobs has fought outside of the
United States before, but this will be his first time fighting in front of a British
Boxing crowd and the atmosphere that the Boxing fans throughout the United
Kingdom provide at virtually every Boxing event that takes place in the UK is
unlike anything that is seen anywhere else in the world in the sport. While
Jacobs is as experienced as they come, it will nevertheless be interesting to see
how fighting in front of what will likely be a partisan crowd that is most
likely something that he has not been exposed to before.
Although John Ryder will obviously need more than crowd
support to be successful in this fight, it can provide a boost in what is one
of the more significant fights in his career. As is usually the case when it
comes to bouts that are deemed “Crossroads Fights,” obviously both fighters
have a lot to prove to themselves and both have the focus of pursuing bigger
and better things after this encounter. While a loss for either man does not
necessarily mean the end of their career, a victory will obviously open up the
possibility of fighting for another world championship sooner than later. We
will see what happens when Jacobs and Ryder meet on Saturday, February 12th.
“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”
Jacobs vs. Ryder takes place tomorrow (Saturday,
February 12th at the Alexandra Palace in London, England. The entire card can be seen globally on
digital subscription sports streaming network DAZN beginning with a Before the
Bell portion of preliminary bouts beginning at 12:15PM ET/9:15AM PT (U.S.
Times). For more information about DAZN
including schedules, list of compatible streaming devices/platforms/Smart TVs,
availability around the world, local start times in your area, and to subscribe
please visit: www.DAZN.com.
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