Our Experts Decide: Jarrod Fletcher vs. Danny Jacobs

 
AUSTRALIA will have it’s third world title challenge in as many weeks when Queensland’s Jarrod Fletcher gets his first tilt at the middleweight championship when he faces Brooklyn’s own Daniel Jacobs from the Barclays Center on Sunday afternoon (AEST).

 
Fletcher, 30, and Jacobs, 27, will face off for ‘regular’ version of the WBA middleweight title, currently held by Gennady Golovkin in addition to WBA interim middleweight titlist Dmitry Chudinov.

 
Since returning from a medical layoff when he was diagnosed with cancer, Jacobs (27-1, 24 KOs) has won five consecutive fights by knockout. Fletcher (18-1, 10 KOs) is riding a six fight win streak since suffering his lone career loss in 2012 in a Commonwealth title attempt against Billy Joe Saunders.

 
Aus-Boxing spoke to a group of industry insiders and got their thoughts ahead of what could be another defining day in Australian boxing.

 
 
Ben Damon, MAIN EVENT – Record: 5-5
 
Jacobs KO Fletcher: What a rough couple of weeks it has been for Aussie boxers in the US on Main Event. Daniel Geale was stopped by the best middleweight on the planet and Blake Caparello was dismantled by the world’s top light heavyweight. Danny Jacobs is not quite in that ‘world’s best’ category but Jarrod Fletcher is well and truly up against it in this fight.

 
Jacobs is a very, very good fighter with huge punching power (go to Youtube and look at his knockout win over Giovanni Lorenzo). It would be great for Australian boxing if Fletcher could come home with a world title, but he is an underdog here for very good reason.

 
Good movement will be vital if Fletcher is going to survive twelve rounds against Jacobs. I’ll be cheering loudly for the Aussie but fear this might not be his day. Jacobs by stoppage.

 
 

Adam Wilcock, Manager/Promoter – Record: 7-3
 
Fletcher W 12 Jacobs: Jacobs’ record is imposing, but break it down and look hard, how much is really there? Yes, he’s 27-1 with 24 knockouts, but his seven fight middleweight record isn’t as solid or exciting. Theres a lot of questions for Jacobs to answer.

 
There’s no doubt that he’s a top of the division performer, well managed and very well promoted by Golden Boy. But, Fletcher has fought and beaten the best in the world as an amateur, punchers and boxers alike. He’s stepped up at every point when asked as a professional and this weekend provides him with a very real opportunity at the WBA world middleweight title held by some legendary names in boxing.

 
Take the Saunders result off his résumé and everyone would expect Jarrod to win this fight. With that UK result comes questions, but rest assured there’s a lot about that one performance that people don’t know or realise.
Jarrod is in the best mental and physical condition of his life and I expect a dominant performance in the later rounds and another points win.

 
 

Sam Soliman, IBF middleweight champion – Record: Debut

 

Fletcher W 12 Jacobs: I think Fletcher needs to get Jacobs on the back foot, press the fight, throw combinations all night (depending on his fitness) and finally, he must be first to the punch. If he does that, he’ll win unanimously, even if it’s over there.

 
I think Fletcher’s toughest challenge of the points I’ve mentioned is getting Jacobs on the back foot. Whether Fletcher is strong enough to do that – it remains to be seen.

 
 

Lincoln Hudson, Trainer – Record: 7-3

 

Jacobs KO 6 Fletcher: Well, this fight gets me excited, but for the wrong reasons. As an Aussie, I want all Australian’s to win – but I don’t think the Aussie will win here. Recently I had the pleasure of working with Daniel Jacobs for seven to eight weeks preparation in the build up for Daniel’s last fight (TKO 1 Milton Nunez).

 
During this time, I became a great admirer of him – not only for his talent – but as a beautiful human being. In saying that, I can’t see Fletcher winning this fight. I see a knockout win to Jacobs early, most likely within the first six rounds.

 
 

Barry Michael, Promoter – Record: Record
 
Jacobs KO Fletcher: Jarrod Fletcher deserves respect for taking on a tough fella in Jacobs. I’ve seen Danny Jacobs before, he’s knocked out some high quality fighters and looks the goods.

 
I wish Fletcher could pull it off – I really do – but I see Jacobs breaking him down inside of six rounds. I think Fletcher is too easy to hit and I think Jacobs can punch hard enough to get him out.

 
 

Matt Clark, Manager – Record: 4-1

 
Jacobs KO 5 Fletcher: While Jarrod is the underdog here, he’s certainly in with a chance. He’ll take a lot of confidence from his excellent win over Max Bursak and he will need to take Jacobs into the later rounds.

 
Jacobs is a big puncher with advantages in height and reach. Unfortunately, I think he will stop Fletcher in the mid-rounds, but I very much hope I’m wrong.

 
 
George Reno, Trainer – Record: 4-2

 
Jacobs KO Fletcher: Fletcher and Jacobs have some ingredients that should lead to a good fight. But Jacobs is on another level, I think he wins inside the distance.

 
Fletcher is a good boxer with a good jab, but unfortunately he doesn’t have enough pop on his shots to hold Jacobs off.

 
 
Lim Jeka, Trainer – Record: 2-1
 
Jacobs KO Fletcher: I don’t believe this will go the distance with Jacobs taking the win.

 
I think Jacobs’ punches too hard, he’s also taller and rangier and fought much better fighters over the course of his career than Fletcher has.

 
 

Billy Hussein, Trainer – Record: 7-1

 

Jacobs TKO 5 Fletcher: I hate to say this, but I think Daniel Jacobs will be too strong for Jarrod Fletcher. Jacobs should score a TKO in the 5th, it’s hard to beat a hungry home town fighter.

 
 

Gareth Williams, Trainer – Record: 6-4

 

Fletcher W 12 Jacobs: This is a tough one. I really want Fletcher, as my boys do a lot of work with him and we have history, but we all know Danny Jacobs is a mean puncher with good skills.

 
The fight will be tough and I’d probably have to say Jacobs is the strong favourite. But with that said, Fletcher is in great form at the moment and I’ll stick with him to win it.

 
 

Billy Dib, former IBF featherweight champion – Record: 2-3

 
Jacobs KO Fletcher: Daniel Jacobs is an amazing fighter and talent. He has supported me throughout my career and I truly believe that it will be his moment to shine.

 
 
Photos: Getty Images/Fightcard Promotions
 

 
Betting Odds:

 
Danny Jacobs: $1.14, Jarrod Fletcher: $5.50

 
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