Jacobs in Search of Another “Miracle” in Facing Off Against Derevyanchenko

In May of 2011, the American boxer Daniel Jacobs’ world fell apart when he was diagnosed with osteogenic sarcoma, an aggressive cancer that causes partial paralysis in the legs. His dreams of conquering the world title collapsed like a house of cards … but not for long.

When Jacobs was 24 years old, a tumor was detected on his spinal cord. It caused damage to the surrounding nerves and heavily restricted his ability to walk.  Shortly after that, he was confined to a wheelchair as his only form of transportation.

As a last resort, doctors recommended the inevitable surgery that would consequently bring an end to his boxing career.

After various surgical interventions (painful both physically and mentally) to extract the damaged tissue, Jacobs dedicated his body and soul to physical therapy.

After some time, which to him felt like an eternity, Jacobs returned to the ring. He may have been lacking in his athletic conditioning, but he was always present in his warrior state of mind.

On August 9, 2014, after three long and exhausting years of battling for his life, Jacobs, the “Miracle Man”, whose alias accurately represents his incredible return to the sport, won the vacant WBA middleweight title. His victim was the Australian Jarrod “Left Jab” Fletcher, whom he TKO’d at 2:58 of the fifth round at the Barclays Center in New York.

Considering all that Jacobs had been through, he and his fans saw this victory over Fletcher as another “miracle”. But in all honesty, it should be attributed to conviction, the strength of his spirit, and an undying will to never give up in the face of adversity as he fought against his own life-threatening illness.

Now, once again, Jacobs (34-2-0, 29 KOs) is attempting to manifest a third “miracle”, this time against the undefeated Ukrainian fighting out of New York, Sergiy Derevyanchenko (12-0-0, 10 KOs). The bout is set for the 27^th of October in the Hulu Theatre of the legendary Madison Square Garden where they will fight for the vacant IBF middleweight title.

Derevyanchenko, 32 years of age, is ranked #1 in the IBF and had become Gennady Golovkin’s obligatory opponent following his 12^th round KO against the Bahamian Tureano Johnson on August 25^, 2017 in South Florida, Miami.

Shortly before the 6^th of June, Golovkin had been stripped of the IBF title because of his inability to face Derevyanchenko before the 3^rd of August, failing to comply with the organization’s orders.  Instead, he focused on fighting the Mexican Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, who achieved victory over him by way of majority decision this past 15^th of September at the T-Mobile Arena, in Las Vegas.

After knocking out Tureano Johnson, “The Technician” Derevyanchenko  proceeded to score another spectacular finish against the American Dashon “Fly Boy” Johnson in the 6^th round, on March 3^rd of this year at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

“I’m a step away from achieving my dreams, and I’m not going to lose this opportunity”, said Derevyachenko to the New York media. “I’ve trained with Danny and I know him very well, we’re even friends, but this belt will be mine. I’ve defeated everyone I’ve faced and I will continue to do that now.”

Jacobs, 31 years of age, and currently ranked 3^rd in the IBF, is coming off a unanimous decision win over the Polish Maciej “Striczu” Sulecki, whom he fought on the 28^th of April at the Barclays Center.

“I’m very excited to be back in the city of New York, fighting in my hometown”, assured Jacobs, who is originally from Brooklyn. “I’m not taking this opportunity lightly. I’ve prepared myself well, because I know how difficult this fight against Sergiy will be”.

This will be Jacob’s historical return to the Madison Square Garden, where he previously suffered a unanimous decision loss to Golovkin on March 18^th of last year.

Translated by E.G for J.J. Alvarez of Boxeo.tv

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