Former middleweight champion Daniel Jacobs. Photo credit: Getty Images
After a 17-year professional career, Daniel Jacobs has announced his retirement from the ring.
The 37-year-old from Brooklyn, Fresh York, who first burst onto the scene as the “Golden Child” before his remarkable comeback from cancer earned him the nickname “The Miracle Man,” retired after losing a ten-round unanimous decision to Shane Mosley Jr. on July 6.
Jacobs, who has a final record of 37-5 (30 knockouts), took to social media to share his journey through the sport, crediting boxing with helping him become more than what his surroundings growing up in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn prepared him for.
“Boxing shaped me into the man I am today,” Jacobs wrote.
“I always dreamed of being a champion in life and when boxing found me, I was a penniless kid growing up in Brownsville, Brooklyn, with no great expectations. As a adolescent black kid, I was forced into an identity that I was not vital or would not be [amount] to anything vital in life. I was told that the ghetto I grew up in was full of criminals with no future and that I would be a statistic like my peers and those who came before me; dead or in prison with no potential to get out or succeed. Now I can proudly say that I am a Rose that grew out of the concrete in Brooklyn. I have proven so many people wrong. I can proudly say that I am a living example of what it looks like to take your destiny into your own hands. And when you accept yourself and your God-given talents, what can you achieve.”
Jacobs first shined as an amateur, winning four Fresh York Golden Gloves titles — plus two National Golden Gloves championships — and narrowly missed out on making the U.S. Olympic team in 2008, losing to Shawn Estrada. Jacobs won his first 20 fights as a pro but was stopped in five rounds by Dmitry Pirog in his first title shot in 2010. Jacobs’ career took a grave hit the following year when he was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a uncommon bone cancer that nearly paralyzed him.
Against all odds, Jacobs returned to the ring the following year, winning another ten fights, winning the WBA “regular” middleweight title and defending it with a first-round knockout of Peter Quillin and two knockouts of Sergio Mora. His winning streak ended with a unanimous decision loss to Gennady Golovkin in 2017, when he was knocked down once in a tough fight in which he exceeded expectations.
Jacobs won the IBF middleweight title in 2018 with a split decision victory over Sergiy Derevyanchenko at The Theater at Madison Square Garden, a win that earned him the biggest payday of a middleweight title unification fight with Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, which was part of a $10 million deal with DAZN.
Jacobs lost that fight by unanimous decision and fought sparingly after that, going 2-2 in his remaining four fights. The loss to Mosley came 29 months after his previous fight, a split decision loss to John Ryder, suggesting Jacobs was on the way out.
In his post, Jacobs thanked many people who have influenced his life, including the teachers at school who helped him get an education and the community at Starrett City Boxing Gym, a community gym in the East Fresh York section of Brooklyn where he and many other top fighters got their start. He also thanked his son Nathaniel, whom he described as “the reason I fight and the reason I live.”
Keith Connolly, an advisor who helped Jacobs throughout his career, paid tribute to Jacobs in an Instagram post shortly after the Mosley fight.
“I spent 20 years in the boxing world with Danny Jacobs. I was with him from day one and I was with him until the end. What an incredible fighter. He won 2 world championships AFTER beating cancer and AFTER coming back from months of being paralyzed from the waist down. It was a lifelong honor to represent you and be your friend. Thank you for all the emotions you gave me. What a career, enjoy your retirement,” Connolly wrote.
In a sport where few achieve their goals and have a composed mind, Jacobs is a uncommon example of someone leaving the industry on his own terms.
“Through the ups and downs inside and outside the ring, I have managed to become a two-time world champion and I can say that I am the first cancer survivor to become a world boxing champion, which is the greatest accomplishment I have ever been able to achieve. Being able to inspire others with my story has always made me feel like my life means more than just fighting in the ring. A true miracle worker. Well done,” Jacobs wrote.
In a clash of forces between two world title contenders, NABO welterweight titleholder Alexis “Lex” Rocha (25-2-0, 16 KO) will put his skills to the test against undefeated knockout and NABF welterweight titleholder Raul “El Cugar “. Curiel (15-0, 13 KO).
The 10-round main event will take place on Saturday, December 14, live from the Toyota Arena in Ontario, California, and will be broadcast worldwide on DAZN.
“‘The best versus the best’ is Golden Boy’s mantra and that’s what fans will see as Rocha and Curiel take on everything that’s on the table,” said President and CEO Oscar De La Hoya. “Rocha is a veteran whose goal is to win the world title, Curiel is an undefeated blue-chip prospect with huge potential. It’s really a 50/50 fight and I’m looking forward to it.”
Tickets for the Rocha vs. match Curiel will go on sale on Friday, October 11 at 10 a.m. PT and will be priced at $100, $75, $50 and $25, excluding applicable service fees. A confined number of Golden Boy VIP Experience tickets will also be available, including exclusive merchandise and fight night upgrades. Standard and VIP tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com, Toyota-arena.com, Goldenboy.com or at the Toyota Arena box office from Monday to Friday from 12:00 to 16:00
“I’ve seen Raul Curiel all these years and he never once mentioned my name,” Alexis Rocha said. “After my last defeat, he suddenly became interested in fighting me. If he thinks I’ve lost a step or somehow had an simple fight, he’s in for a rude awakening. I can’t wait to make a statement and show the world what I’m capable of.”
Santa Ana, California Rep. Alexis “Lex” Rocha comes from a struggling family. The younger brother of Ronny Rios, he was the youngest fighter to win a gold medal at the Junior Olympics at the age of 14 in 2012 and caught the attention of the boxing world by becoming a six-time national champion during his amateur career. Rocha signed with Golden Boy in January 2016 and made his professional debut in March 2016, defeating Jordan Rosario at the Belasco Theater in Los Angeles. Since then, he has amassed an enviable record of powerful knockouts over top contenders and plans to return to world title contention, with his last fight being a victory over undefeated Santiago Dominguez on July 19 last year.
“The fans can expect a war,” said Raul Curiel. “I’m going to prepare well to put on a great show. This will be the most essential fight of my career so far. I know Alexis is a great fighter, a good opponent and will also show up prepared. My focus is on Alexis and if I can beat him, I know it will give me a chance to fight for the world championship.
Former unified lightweight champion George Kambosos approached promoter Eddie Hearn asking for more massive fights.
Kambosos has signed a co-promotional deal with Eddie Hearn, under which the Greek-Australian slugger will continue his association with DiBella Entertainment Inc. and his own company, Ferocious Promotions.
The 21-3 star will move up to the super lightweight division of Matchroom Boxing’s lively division. He aims to become a two-weight world champion in early 2025, and as part of the deal, a title fight is promised as long as he continues to win.
Since his stunning victory over Teofimo Lopez, Kambosos has never shied away from competing against the best. Those three losses on his resume came to Devin Haney [twice] and Vasily Lomachenko, all at home and all for world titles.
The 31-year-old is now set to face compatriot Liam Paro after defending his IBF title against Richardson Hitchins in December in Puerto Rico.
“I am thrilled to be working with Matchroom Boxing. I am excited to have signed a three-way promotional cooperation agreement with my long-time promoter DiBella Entertainment Inc. and Ferocious Promotions,” Kambosos said.
“I made great success and history when I moved up the Matchroom shows by winning my UK elimination fight against Lee Selby. The most noteworthy and unforgettable is my victory against Teofimo at Madison Square Garden in Up-to-date York to become the 135-pound world champion.
“I am officially announcing that I will be moving up to 140 pounds and signing with Matchroom will ensure my continued success and the legacy I want to leave in the sport of boxing.”
Hearn, who adds an experienced campaigner to his stable, added: “I am delighted to welcome George to the team. George’s victory over Teofimo tore up the script and showed that George was the man for the massive time. He has proven to be a huge attraction in Australia and one of the real driving forces behind the rapid growth of boxing Down Under.
“The 140-pound division is full of massive names and massive potential fights. Adding George to the mix only elevates the level, and a possible fight with Liam Paro is a truly appetizing prospect. If Liam manages to win in a great fight against Richardson on December 7th [the fight could be on].
Lou DiBella, who has worked with Kambosos for years, said: “I’m glad I was able to make a deal with my antique buddy Eddie to work with George Kambosos Jr. and Ferocious Promotions.
“Throughout his career, George has been a fighter who has never shied away from a challenge, and now he wants to test himself against top junior welterweights.
Matchroom works with top 140-pounders, including George’s compatriot Liam Paro, and, like DiBella Entertainment, is heavily invested in Australia.
“It’s a natural partnership,” added the Up-to-date Yorker.
One of the hottest topics surrounding Mike Tyson’s return at the age of 58 was the possibility of the boxing legend scoring a knockout of Jake Paul.
WBN has weighed in on this topic several times, questioning the validity of five-second training clips that revealed nothing about Tyson’s abilities at this overdue age. One of the most intriguing observations during the preparations was the opinion of UFC commentator Daniel Cormier.
Speaking on his show “Funky and the Champ,” Cormier reflected on Tyson’s social media videos and offered an informed opinion on the meaning of the clips.
“I understand that [he is in amazing shape at 58]and I understand what he is saying [he feels as though he can compete]– Cormier said. “And I agree that when he hits the pads with Rafael Cordeiro, it looks like there’s still something left in him.
“But then I watch Jake Paul fight Mike Perry. I saw Jake Paul get overwhelmed to the point where he started to feel uncomfortable. It looked like Mike Perry had a chance. But Jake has a reserve tank he can go to and benefit from because he’s 28 years ancient. Then he comes back and finally finishes Mike Perry.
“At the beginning of the fight, Mike Perry gets beaten up and dropped. He looks trained and unmatched. This worries me because what if it looks like a 58-year-old man fighting a 28-year-old man while Mike can’t employ the backup tank to stay and compete with this newborn kid? I think it’s a failure for Jake Paul because if you beat Mike Tyson, everyone will love him.
He added: “What if Mike knocks him out? It’s over. Everything is ready. This would be the backfire of all time. If he gets knocked out, nothing like that has ever happened in the history of the sport.”
Unfortunately for Tyson, this revenge backfired spectacularly, as the former heavyweight champion’s return was the only event that bombed. Tyson had nothing left twenty years after he had nothing left in his tank and no desire to box in his mind.
Paul parlayed this into a money-making scheme that would forever be a success for him and his company, but would be poorly received by the die-hard boxing fraternity.
Cormier’s words resonate, especially after what happened in the ring when Mike Tyson struggled to shift into first gear, warning former fighters thinking about returning after 50.
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