Gennady Golovkin vs. Daniel Jacobs

Following Gennady Golovkin's win over Kell Brook, there were immediate talks of a WBA unification fight against 'Regular' champion Daniel Jacobs, as part of WBA's plan to reduce the amount of world titles in each division from three to one. Team Golovkin spoke of fighting Billy Joe Saunders after the Jacobs fight which would be a middleweight unification fight for all the belts.{{Cite news|url=http://www.boxingnews24.com/2016/09/team-golovkin-wants-saunders-jacobs-fight/?|title=Team Golovkin wants Saunders after Jacobs fight – Boxing News|date=2016-09-19|newspaper=Boxing News 24|language=en-US|access-date=2016-10-19}}

The date discussed initially was 10 December, which Golovkin's team had on hold for Madison Square Garden. The date was originally set by HBO for Álvarez after he defeated Liam Smith, but Canelo confirmed he would not be fighting again until 2017 after fracturing his right thumb. There was ongoing negotiations between Tom Loeffler and Al Haymon about the split in purses, if the fight goes to purse bids, it would be a 75–25 split with Golovkin taking the majority due to him being the 'Super' champion. As the negotiations continued, Jacobs wanted a better split, around 60–40. The WBA granted an extension for the negotiation period on 7 October, as the two sides originally had until October 10 to come to an arrangement or else a purse bid would be due. There was also a request to change the purse bid split to 60–40, which the WBA declined. Golovkin started his training camp for the fight on 17 October.{{Cite news|url=http://www.espn.co.uk/boxing/story/_/id/17615512/gennedy-golovkin-daniel-jacobs-targeted-dec-10|title=Golovkin-Jacobs targeted for Dec. 10 at MSG|newspaper=ESPN.com|access-date=2016-10-19}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.boxingnews24.com/2016/10/golovkin-start-training-week-december-10-fight/?|title=Golovkin to start training this week for December 10 fight – Boxing News|date=2016-10-17|newspaper=Boxing News 24|language=en-US|access-date=2016-10-19}}{{cite web|url=http://www.boxingscene.com/golovkin-jacobs-fight--109535?|title=Golovkin-Jacobs: The WBA Wants Deal, Gives Purse Bid Extension – Boxing News|website=www.boxingscene.com|access-date=2016-10-19}}{{cite web|url=http://www.boxingscene.com/golovkin-jacobs--109684?|title=Golovkin-Jacobs: WBA Denies Request To Modify Purse Bid Split – Boxing News|website=www.boxingscene.com|access-date=2016-10-19}}

Loeffler told the LA Times on 18 October that although the negotiations were still active, the fight would not take place on December 10. A new date for early 2017 would need to be set, still looking at Madison Square Garden to host the fight.{{cite web|url=http://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-sn-boxing-gennady-golovkin-daniel-jacobs-date-20161018-snap-story.html|title=Gennady Golovkin-Daniel Jacobs fight moved off Dec. 10, aiming for early 2017 date|last=Times|first=Los Angeles|website=Los Angeles Times|date=18 October 2016 |access-date=2016-10-19}}{{cite web|url=http://www.skysports.com/boxing/news/12040/10623269/gennady-golovkin-and-daniel-jacobs-have-been-unable-to-agree-a-fight-in-december|title=Gennady Golovkin and Daniel Jacobs have been unable to agree a fight in December|last=|first=|date=October 19, 2016|website=Sky Sports|publisher=|access-date=October 19, 2016}} Golovkin prides himself on being an extremely active fighter, and this is the first year since 2012 that he has been in fewer than three fights.{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/boxing/story/_/id/17828089/gennady-golovkin-daniel-jacobs-fight-happen-dec-10-due-ongoing-talks|title=Gennady Golovkin-Daniel Jacobs fight won't happen Dec. 10 due to ongoing talks|last=Rafael|first=Dan|date=October 18, 2016|work=ESPN.com|accessdate=October 22, 2016}} WBA president Gilberto Mendoza confirmed in an email to RingTV that a deal had to be made by 5pm on December 7 or a purse bid would be held on December 19 in Panama. Later that day, the WBA announced a purse bid would be scheduled with a minimum bid of $400,000, with Golovkin receiving 75% and Jacobs 25%.{{Cite news|url=http://www.ringtv.com/476331-golovkin-jacobs-5-p-m-et-make-deal/|title=Golovkin and Jacobs have until 5 p.m. ET to make deal – The Ring|date=2016-12-07|newspaper=The Ring|language=en-US|access-date=2016-12-07}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.fightnews.com/Boxing/wba-announces-purse-bids-361995|title=WBA announces purse bids {{!}} Boxing News|date=2016-12-07|newspaper=Boxing News|language=en-US|access-date=2016-12-08|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161209172619/http://www.fightnews.com/Boxing/wba-announces-purse-bids-361995|archivedate=2016-12-09}} Although purse bids were announced, Loeffler stated he would carry on negotiations, hopeful that a deal would be reached before the purse bid.{{Cite news|url=http://www.ringtv.com/477397-haymon-wins-purse-bid-ggg-jacobs-regular-showtime/|title=If Haymon wins purse bid, GGG-Jacobs goes to regular Showtime – The Ring|date=2016-12-14|newspaper=The Ring|language=en-US|access-date=2016-12-17}}

On December 17, terms were finally agreed, and it was announced that the fight would take place at Madison Square Garden in New York City on March 18, 2017, broadcast exclusively on HBO PPV.{{Cite news|url=http://www.ringtv.com/477804-ggg-jacobs-make-deal-march-18-msg-hbo-ppv/|title=GGG and Jacobs make deal for March 18 at MSG on HBO PPV – The Ring|date=2016-12-17|newspaper=The Ring|language=en-US|access-date=2016-12-17}} Golovkin tweeted the announcement whilst Jacobs uploaded a short video on social media. At the time of the fight, the fighters had a combined 35 consecutive knockouts. It was reported that Golovkin's IBO world title would not be at stake, but the IBO website later confirmed the belt would be at stake.{{cite web|url=http://www.boxingscene.com/golovkin-vs-jacobs-deal-done-march-18-msg-hbo-ppv--111864|title=Golovkin vs. Jacobs Deal Done – March 18 at MSG, HBO PPV – Boxing News|website=www.boxingscene.com|access-date=2016-12-17}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.espn.com/boxing/story/_/id/18298404/gennady-golovkin-fight-daniel-jacobs-march-madison-square-garden|title=Book it: GGG-Jacobs set for March 18 at MSG|newspaper=ESPN.com|access-date=2016-12-17}} HBO officially announced the fight on December 22, billed as "Middleweight Madness".{{cite web|url=http://www.boxingscene.com/hbo-sports-officially-announces-golovkin-jacobs-318-msg--111981|title=HBO Sports Officially Announces Golovkin-Jacobs for 3/18 at MSG|last=|first=|date=December 22, 2016|website=Boxing Scene|publisher=|access-date=December 22, 2016}} Loeffler confirmed there was no rematch clause in place.{{Cite web|url=http://www.boxingscene.com/gennady-golovkin-vs-daniel-jacobs-there-no-rematch-clause--114535|title=Gennady Golovkin vs. Daniel Jacobs: There is NO Rematch Clause - Boxing News|website=www.boxingscene.com|language=en-us|access-date=2017-03-13}}

At the official weigh-in, a day before the fight, Golovkin tipped the scales at 159.6 lb, while Jacobs weighed 159.8 lb.{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/boxing/story/_/id/18935010/gennady-golovkin-daniel-jacobs-make-weight-unified-middleweight-title-fight|title=GGG weighs in to fight 'best opponent' Jacobs|date=17 March 2017 |publisher=}} Jacobs declined to compete for the IBF title by skipping a fight-day weight check. Unlike other major sanctioning bodies, the IBF requires participants in title fights to submit to a weight check on the morning of the fight, as well as the official weigh-in the day before the fight; at the morning weight check, they can weigh no more than {{convert|10|lb}} above the fight's weight limit.{{cite news|url=http://www.espn.com/boxing/story/_/id/18941484/daniel-jacobs-blows-weight-check-win-ibf-title-vs-gennady-golovkin |title=Daniel Jacobs blows off weight check, can't win IBF title vs. Gennady Golovkin |first=Dan |last=Rafael |work=ESPN.com |date=2017-03-18 |accessdate=2017-03-18}}

Thus far, the IBF title was not on the line for Jacobs, as he skipped the procedure. HBO's Max Kellerman assumed that this was a part of the Team Jacobs' strategic plan, "because no one, in the end, is gonna remember who won the belt, they're gonna remember who won the fight." Kellerman, Jim Lampley and Roy Jones Jr. estimated that Jacobs came to fight Golovkin weighing around 180 pounds, therefore being a legitimate light heavyweight that night with a considerably increased punching power.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhGOqnJpbXw&t=2005 Classic Fights: Gennady Golovkin vs. Daniel Jacobs], Max Kellerman and Roy Jones Jr. on the Jacobs' weigh-in prior to the fight.

In front of a sell out crowd of 19,939, the fight went the full 12 rounds. This was the first time that Golovkin fought 12 rounds in his professional career. Golovkin's ring control, constant forward pressure and effective jab lead to a 115-112, 115-112, 114-113 unanimous decision victory, ending his 23 fight knockout streak which dated back to November 2008.{{Cite web|url=http://www.boxingscene.com/gennady-golovkin-vs-daniel-jacobs-official-scorecards-photo--114751|title=Gennady Golovkin vs. Daniel Jacobs Official Scorecards - Photo - Boxing News|website=www.boxingscene.com|language=en-us|access-date=2017-03-20}} ESPN had Golovkin winning 115-112. The opening three rounds were quiet with very little action. In the fourth round, Golovkin dropped Jacobs with a short right hand along the ropes for a flash knockdown. Jacobs recovered, but Golovkin controlled most of the middle rounds. Jacobs was effective in switching between orthodox and southpaw stance, but remained on the back foot. Both boxers were warned once in the fight by referee Charlie Fitch for rabbit punching.

Following the fight, some doubted Golovkin did enough to win. Jacobs thought he had won the fight by two rounds and attributed the loss to the potential big money fight that is Golovkin vs. Canelo. Jacobs also stated after being knocked down, he told Golovkin, "he'd have to kill me." In the post-fight interview, Golovkin said, “I’m a boxer, not a killer. I respect the game.” Before revenue shares, it was reported that Golovkin would earn at least $2.5 million compared to Jacobs' $1.75 million.{{Cite news|url=http://www.espn.co.uk/boxing/story/_/id/18948370/gennady-golovkin-defeats-daniel-jacobs-retain-middleweight-belts.|title=Golovkin emerges in slim decision over Jacobs|work=ESPN.com|access-date=2017-03-20}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/39319486|title=Gennady Golovkin defends middleweight titles against Daniel Jacobs|date=2017-03-19|work=BBC Sport|access-date=2017-03-20|language=en-GB}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.ringtv.com/490003-golovkin-wins-close-decision-resilient-jacobs/|title=Golovkin wins close decision against resilient Jacobs - The Ring|date=2017-03-18|work=The Ring|access-date=2017-03-20|language=en-US}}

According to CompuBox punch stats, Golovkin landed 231 of 615 punches (38%) which was more than Jacobs who landed 175 of 541 (32%).{{Cite web|url=http://www.boxingscene.com/golovkin-vs-jacobs-compubox-punch-stats--114756|title=Golovkin vs. Jacobs - CompuBox Punch Stats - Boxing News|website=www.boxingscene.com|language=en-us|access-date=2017-11-22}}

On March 24, Tom Loeffler revealed the fight generated 170,000 pay-per-view buys.{{Cite web|url=http://www.boxingscene.com/loeffler-confirms-golovkin-jacobs-about-170k-ppv-buys--114934|title=Loeffler Confirms Golovkin-Jacobs Did About 170K PPV Buys - Boxing News|website=www.boxingscene.com|language=en-us|access-date=2017-03-25}} A replay was shown on HBO later in the week and averaged 709,000 viewers.{{Cite web|url=http://mmapayout.com/2017/03/ggg-jacobs-replay-draws-709000-viewers/|title=GGG-Jacobs replay draws 709,000 viewers : MMAPayout.com: The Business of MMA|website=mmapayout.com|access-date=2017-05-19}} Lance Pugmire from LA Times reported the live gate was $3.7 million, a big increase from the Golovkin vs. Lemieux PPV which achieved $2 million. He also said that merchandise and sponsors were higher.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2017/3/21/15005848/boxing-news-early-estimates-have-golovkin-vs-jacobs-pulling-in-130000-150000-ppv-buys|title=Report: Golovkin-Jacobs did estimated 130,000-150,000 PPV buys|date=2017-03-21|website=Bloody Elbow|access-date=2017-03-25}}

Guaranteed base purses{{Cite news|url=http://www.boxingnews24.com/2017/03/purses-golovkin-2-5m-jacobs-1-75m/|title=Purses: Golovkin $2.5M, Jacobs $1.75M » Boxing News|date=2017-03-17|work=Boxing News 24|access-date=2017-11-22|language=en-US}}

• Gennady Golovkin ($2.5 million) vs. Daniel Jacobs ($1.75 million)
• Román González ($550,000) vs. Srisaket Sor Rungvisai. ($75,000)

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{{Succession box

| title = Gennady Golovkin's bouts

| years = March 18, 2017

| with =

| before = vs. Kell Brook

| after = vs. Canelo Álvarez

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{{Succession box

| title = Daniel Jacobs's bouts

| years = March 18, 2017

| with =

| before = vs. Sergio Mora

| after = vs. Luís Arias

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• [http://boxrec.com/boxer/356831 Gennady Golovkin's career boxing record]
• [http://boxrec.com/boxer/432984 Daniel Jacobs's career boxing record]
• [http://boxrec.com/en/event/744074 Event details]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Golovkin, Jacobs}}

Category:2017 in boxing

Category:2017 in sports in New York City

Category:September 2017 sports events in the United States

Category:Boxing matches at Madison Square Garden

Jacobs

Category:Boxing on HBO

Category:Middleweight championship matches