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The WBA has ordered WBA (Super) Middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin to face WBA ( Regular ) middleweight champion Daniel Jacobs in what it called a mandatory bout:
#WBAboxing : @GGGBoxing , @DanielJacobsTKO to meet in mandatory bout via @espn @danrafaelespn https://t.co/U9mgWmifME
— WBA (@WBABoxing) September 12, 2016
Fresh off KO Wins
The WBA’s orders came after both champions successfully defended their world titles last week. Both Golovkin and Jacobs fought on the same weekend and both are fresh off KO wins over their respective challenger.
Jacobs successfully defended his title for the 4th consecutive time with a 7th round knockout of Sergio Mora last September 9th. Jacobs dropped Mora a total of five times before the bout was halted. Prior to that, Jacobs came off a stunning 1st round KO win over fellow New Yorker Peter Quillin in a high profile bout last December 2015.
Known as the Miracle Man for overcoming cancer, Jacobs won the vacant WBA (regular) middleweight title with a victory over Jarrod Fletcher in 2014. He’s since defended the belt against Mora ( twice ), Caleb Traux and Quillin. Jacobs is 32-1 with 29 KOs. His only defeat was a 5th round TKO to Dmitry Pirog in 2010 when he challenged for the WBO middleweight title.
GGG-Brook
Golovkin meanwhile is coming off a 5th round TKO victory over IBF Welterweight champion Kell Brook who agreed to move up two weight classes to challenge the man nobody wants to face.
The GGG-Brook bout was interesting because Brook gave a good account of himself while it lasted. Not only were the official scorecards close but GGG was landing cleanly on Golovkin throughout the contest. But after four seemingly competitive rounds, Golovkin turned on the heat in the fifth, forcing Brook’s corner to throw in the towel.
While Brook mightily failed in his quest, experts are saying he may have laid the foundation in beating the fearsome Golovkin who recorded his 23rd consecutive win by breaking Brook’s orbital bone last Saturday night. With the victory over Brook, Golovkin improved his immaculate record to 36-0 with 33 KOs.
Champ vs Champ
The WBA’s order to let its Super and Regular champions square off is a rare occurrence. In this case, the fight isn’t booked yet but both parties are given 30 days to negotiate the fight or else it goes to a purse bid. After the fight is agreed, it is bound to happen within 120 days.
As for the date, HBO has reserved November 26 for Golovkin but because Jacobs is managed by Al Haymon of the PBC, there could be some hitches. However, Haymon fighters have fought under HBO in the past, giving this champion vs champion bout a good chance of happening.
