Canelo beats Jacobs to unify middleweight world titles

 

 

 

LAS VEGAS, USA (UPDATED) – Mexican Saul “Canelo” Alvarez earned a unanimous decision victory over Daniel Jacobs in a fight that pitted two of the world’s top middleweights against each other with 3 world titles on the line on Saturday, May 4 (Sunday, May 5, Manila time).

Alvarez kept his World Boxing Council and World Boxing Association titles and seized Jacobs’ International Boxing Federation belt in a bout that marked the Mexican’s return to the 160-pound division.

Alvarez won on all 3 judges scorecards with two having it 115-113 and the other 116-112.

Since losing to Floyd Mayweather in 2013 Alvarez has gone 10-0 with one draw including 5 knockouts, and at the age of 28 is still in his prime.

Alvarez’s penchant for taking on all comers and his exciting style has elevated him to become one of the biggest stars in boxing, but it was his sound defenSe that stood out against Jacobs on Saturday at the T-Mobile Arena.

He dominated the early rounds, landing power jabs and slipping head shots by Jacobs in a manner that would have made Mayweather proud.

Best punches

By the 6th round Alvarez looked in control, prompting American Jacobs’ corner to tell him to open up and take some chances. Up until that point, the most noteworthy move from Jacobs was his ability to switch from orthodox to southpaw style in an attempt to give Alvarez a different look.

Jacobs landed one of the best punches of the fight in the 9th round, a looping overhand right that hit Alvarez on the top of the head. Alvarez though didn’t flinch, showing that he was ready to take some punishment to win.

There were more good exchanges in the 10th as Jacobs’ confidence appeared to grow but Alvarez stuck to his fight plan and scored effectively. 

Alvarez is known to take on the toughest fights possible and he has the resume to back it up. Over the past 7 years his CV features the likes of Mayweather, Shane Mosley, Austin Trout, Gennady Golovkin, Erislandy Lara and Miguel Cotto.

After claiming a world title at super middleweight in December, Alvarez decided to return to the 160-pound division on Saturday.

He now hopes to add a fourth title by taking on World Boxing Organization middleweight champion Demetrius Andrade.

Contract clause

Jacobs had missed a fight-day weight check, but the unification bout still went on.

Golden Boy Promotions chief executive Oscar de la Hoya told ESPN that Jacobs tipped the scales at 173.6 pounds on Saturday morning after rehydrating following Friday’s weigh-in, at which each man made the 160-pound middleweight limit.

“Jacobs came in heavy,” De La Hoya told ESPN. “We spoke to Canelo and his attitude is, ‘I don’t care. I’m still going to kick his ass.’

“The fact that Jacobs came in heavy tells you a lot. It tells you how unsure he is in himself.”

Jacobs was at 160 pounds, half a pound more than Alvarez, at Friday’s weigh-in. But with Jacobs having a size advantage, Alvarez insisted on a contract clause in which each fighter would have a morning fight weight check with a rehydration limit of 170 pounds.

De La Hoya said Alvarez was at 169 while Jacobs went 3.6 pounds over.

ESPN said Jacobs would be fined $1 million from his guaranteed payout of $10 million. – Rappler.com