Danny Jacobs felt like a winner even though the judges didn’t think so. Sometimes moral victories are acceptable in boxing especially when an underdog, like Jacobs was against Gennady Golovkin, proves to be a more-than-worthy opponent.
Most expected Golovkin to make Jacobs his 24th consecutive knockout victim when they met for the middleweight championship Saturday night before 19,939 at Madison Square Garden. But Jacobs displayed his Brooklyn fighting spirit by overcoming a fourth-round knockdown to go the 12-round distance in a fight many thought he won.
“I think I shocked a lot of people,” said Jacobs, who lost on the official scorecards 115-112 twice and 114-113. The Post scored the fight 115-112 for Jacobs. “Going in I was the underdog and I had no chance. But I proved who I am and I proved what I can do.”
There will be a replay of the bout Saturday on HBO and a rematch somewhere in the distant future. For now Golovkin, the WBC, WBA and IBO champion, will await a possible matchup with Canelo Alvarez (who fights Julio Caesar Chavez Jr. the first weekend in May in Las Vegas) or chase a unification bout with WBO champ Billy Joe Saunders of England.
Jacobs, meanwhile, accomplished the unusual feat of improving his appeal despite losing. He entered the bout a 6-to-1 underdog with questions about his chin and ability to withstand Golovkin’s pressure and punching power. But Jacobs delivered as much as he took, unafraid to go toe-to-toe and smartly turning southpaw at times to connect with a lead right hand.
“I went in there and gave it all that I had,” said Jacobs (32-2, 29 KOs). “I showed some moments of true grit. The fight didn’t go in my favor though I felt I won the fight. I definitely think it at least should have been a draw. But I’m happy the fans ultimately were the winners. It definitely wasn’t a dull fight. We traded and boxed and used our skills. I think we did our job.”
The fight capped a terrific two days of boxing at the Garden that attracted 25,000 fans. Ireland Olympic hero Michael Conlan made his pro debut on a St. Patrick’s Day card at the Garden Theater the night before Golovkin and Jacobs drew a raucous crowd at the “World’s Most Famous Arena.” Add another 16,000 who filled Barclays Center two weeks ago to watch Keith Thurman outpoint Danny Garcia in a battle of unbeaten welterweight champions and that’s 41,000 watching boxing in the city this month.
If UFC superstar Conor McGregor is going to take over boxing, as he vowed last week, he’ll have to get in line behind Golovkin (37-0, 33 KOs) who becomes the pound-for-pound king of boxing now that Ramon “Chocolatito” Gonzalez lost his first fight and the WBC Super Featherweight title to Srisaket Sor Rungvisai of Thailand in the co-feature bout Saturday.
Jacobs is more of a star, too. The challenger’s confidence grew after being dropped in the fourth round by a right hand to the body. He withstood Golovkin’s punches the remainder of the bout, often gesturing the champion to engage.
“He definitely wasn’t this bogeyman knockout artist that everyone [feared],” Jacobs said. “He’s a tough fighter and I knew he was going to come forward, but he showed respect and my boxing ability demanded that respect.”
Jacobs will likely get another high-profile fight before the year is over to stay busy and in contention.
“I know with the performance I had, it’s not over for me,” Jacobs said. “My future is that much brighter. I’m going to keep pushing.”