Alexandra Palace, London:
Talk about a “home field” decision. While it’s not as bad as a “black eye” as boxing has seen, the 115-113 (2x), 113-115 scorecards raise eyebrows. It wasn’t a fight that Daniel Jacobs needed, the Brooklynite is a fight anyone, anywhere type. So he flew around the planet to face John Ryder in his hometown. With the fight later billed as a WBA title eliminator; can Ryder become champion.
“The Gorilla” doesn’t have a big enough name or resume to be opposite Canelo Alvarez on the marquis. But in the fight he did show he had some “dog” inside him, and a lot of heart. He was picked apart early and often from Jacobs’ pin point jab. And the former two-time middleweight champion had the 33-year old frustrated with his footwork. But in the second half of the fight, things turned. Ryder did sting Jacobs in the sixth and seventh. But he really applied the pressure from round eight to eleven. And he started moving his head off the center line.
Can Ryder Become Champion
There’s just so many bigger fish for Alvarez. And for Ryder to truly become global, he’ll need to capture the American audience. Next month Edgar Berlanga fights at the Hulu Theater in Madison Square Garden. That would be a decent next fight for the Londoner. Or perhaps even Fedor Chudinov, unless he’d like to run back his loss to Callum Smith.
The southpaw’s three-fight win streak does show some growth, but there are still a lot of holes in his game. Despite him pulling a veteran like Jacobs into a dog fight. But with Alvarez holding all the straps at 168, holding a belt is as likely as finding a needle in a haystack. And should he relinquish those belts for ones in a higher division, it’s still not likely. Between both David’s; Lemieux and Benavidez, he’d have a hard time. And a win over Caleb Plant would be just as tough to achieve.
How Much Does Jacobs Have Left In Him
It was a fight both fighters NEEDED to win. But this loss is definitely going to be a tough one to get over. While he wasn’t guaranteed a rematch with Alvarez, he was in the sweepstakes for the fight. Perhaps the swoon was some sort of late delayed jet lag. But the 35-year old will now have to work doubly as hard to get back into that conversation for a strap.
Moving forward he may just now be the solid “B-side” gatekeeper for those rising in the ranks.
