Weekend Fight Previews: Gennady Golovkin vs. Danny Jacobs

Gennady Gennadyevich Golovkin (36-0, 33 KO’s) once again brings his “Big Drama Show” to New York City, this time against a native in Danny Jacobs (32-1, 29 KO’s).

Much ink has been spilled over Jacobs’ past and Golovkin’s future, but the real riff raff is about what both men are capable of, the firepower involved (KO%: Golovkin – 92; Jacobs – 88), and the potential for competitiveness. Golovkin has been in dire need of an opponent who can push him and Jacobs at least has the ability to do that.

The Brooklyn-born “Miracle Man” is riding a 12-fight knockout streak since his loss to the shifty Dmitry Pirog—eleven of those after his victory over cancer. The most notable of the bunch is undoubtedly his stunningly quick stoppage over then highly rated, Peter Quillin.

Golovkin, however, carries a more impressive knockout streak going in, halting his last 23. Most don’t expect the streak to end on March 18^th, in Madison Square Garden. Not only is “GGG” an odds-on favorite at 8-1, but Jacobs’ chin isn’t as well suited to punishment, as he has been iced once and floored by the light-punching, Sergio Mora.

The fights before this are attractions unto themselves. The world’s best fighter in Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez (46-0, 38 KO’s) and his last dance partner, Carlos “Príncipe” Cuadras (35-1-1, 27 KO’s), will take on solid but winnable bouts to build up a rematch. Gonzalez gets Srisaket Sor Rungvisai (41-4-1, 38 KO’s), who gave Cuadras a tough outing not long ago, while Cuadras takes on David Carmona (20-3-5, 8 KO’s).

Also on the undercard is “Irish” Andy Lee’s (34-3-1, 24 KO’s) return to the fold. He matches up with KeAndrae Leatherwood (19-3-1, 12 KO’s).

Other fights include: Dennis Ceylan (18-0-1, 8 KO’s) vs. Isaac Lowe (13-0-1, 5 KO’s) in a battle of two unbeaten European prospects, and Adrian Granat (14-0, 13 KO’s) vs. Alexander Dimitrenko (39-3, 25 KO’s), the Swedish youngster’s toughest test to date.

Prospect watch: Ryan Martin (17-0, 10 KO’s), a 5’11” lightweight who will be doing his best against Bryant Cruz (17-1, 8 KO’s) to live up to his to-the-point nickname, “Blue Chip”.

24/7 Golovkin/Jacobs – Full Show (HBO Boxing)