Gennady Golovkin holds off Daniel Jacobs by the thinnest of margins
He is my toughest fighter. I can’t destroy him. He’s a very good fighter. This was my first test for 12 rounds.
— Gennady Golovkin
Gennady Golovkin’s knockout streak succumbed Saturday night to a man who refuses to cave.
Although the judges awarded three-belt middleweight champion Golovkin (37-0) a unanimous-decision victory by scores of 115-112, 115-112, 114-113, the takeaway was the courageous stand by Brooklyn’s Daniel Jacobs in front of 19,939 people at Madison Square Garden.
The cancer survivor who was sidelined for parts of 2011 and 2012 survived getting knocked down by a fourth-round power punch that was struck square on the jaw, rallying back to end Golovkin’s 23-fight knockout streak and nearly convince the judges he’d won.
“I think I won the fight and I think the fans support me on that,” Jacobs (32-2) said. “All I can do is be gracious in defeat. I told him you’ll have to kill me.
“At times, I stood toe to toe with him to see what everybody was talking about and it wasn’t that bad. I’ve gained a lot of fans with this fight. My style is very good and I can look forward to the future.”
Golovkin won the eighth and ninth rounds on all three scorecards, but Jacobs swept the sixth, seventh, 10th and 11th, surprising a dominating champion who kept alive his hopes to fight Canelo Alvarez in a September superfight by the thinnest of margins.
“There was no dancing in here tonight,” promoter Tom Loeffler said. “It was warriors, fighting their heart out. They both showed a tremendous chin. It was a testament to Danny’s fortitude and courage.”
Golovkin said he was left with respect for Jacobs.
“He is my toughest fighter,” Golovkin said. “I can’t destroy him. He’s a very good fighter. This was my first test for 12 rounds.”
Golovkin wins unanimous decision and stays undefeated
Golovkin’s knockout streak is over, but he stays undefeated with a unanimous decision.
Two judges had it 115-112 and the third had it 114-113. The L.A. Times card had it 115-112 for Golovkin.
Golovkin vs. Jacobs Round 12: Fight will go to the judges
Golovkin peppering Jacobs with multiple jabs. Big misses by Jacobs with a big hook that didn’t land.
Some great exchanges in the middle of the ring as both boxers don’t want to give this up. This is a really close fight.
Big misses by both fighters. Very close fight and it will go to the cards. We have it close for GGG.
L.A. Times Card: Golovkin 10-9 (Golovkin 115-112)
Golovkin vs. Jacobs Round 11: Jacobs has best round in a while
Golovkin finally starts working the body early, but Jacobs has been more active.
A good couple of upper cuts from Jacobs gets the crowd going. Nice left again by Jacobs. He’s doing more this round.
Clear round for Jacobs. This is going to go down to the wire. Very close fight so far.
L.A. Times Card: Jacobs 10-9 (Golovkin 105-103)
Golovkin vs. Jacobs Round 10: Close round goes to GGG
Fighters trade some punches in the corner as GGG continues to charge ahead. The best action in the round again comes in the final seconds with some nice combos by both fighters.
A very close round, but Golovkin gets it.
L.A. Times Card: Golovkin 10-9 (Golovkin 96-93)
Golovkin vs. Jacobs Round 9: Best round for Golovkin
Much more activity by Jacobs in the first minutes of the round. GGG hasn’t been able to use his power much. Good uppercut hurt Jacobs, but a nice response by him stops GGG.
GGG is finally starting to hurt Jacobs; several strong punches buckled Jacobs. GGG kept going forward and a great end to the round. GGG has his best round in a while.
L.A. Times Card: Golovkin 10-9 (86-84)
Golovkin vs. Jacobs Round 8: Close round for GGG
Early chants of “Daniel,” Jacobs looks to be turning the crowd to his side.
Both boxers hanging around the middle of the ring before Jacobs lands a strong right to the body. Jacobs’ length just seems to be causing GGG problems.
A close round. GGG takes it because he landed the more powerful punches.
L.A. Times Card: Golovkin 10-9 (Golovkin 76-75)
Golovkin vs. Jacobs Round 7: Another close round for Jacobs
Jacobs is gaining confidence. He looks much more comfortable now.
Nice combo for GGG stops a bit of Jacob’s momentum. The best back-and-forth action of the night. Jacobs is having a nice round. Golovkin is still being very cautious.
Late flurry of punches land a bit before and after the bell. Close round for Jacobs.
L.A. Times Card: Jacobs 10-9 (Golovkin 66-66 Jacobs)
Golovkin vs. Jacobs Round 6: Strong round for Jacobs
Jacob is having some success with his left. He lands a nice left right combination to the body midway through the round. Best round so far for Jacobs.
GGG is being cautious of Jacobs’ power and size. Jacobs wins round easily and looks to be gaining confidence.
L.A. TImes Card: Jacobs 10-9 (Golovkin 57-56)
Golovkin vs. Jacobs Round 5: Jacobs shows life, but GGG wins close round
Strong rights again to start the round for GGG. Golovkin looks to be taking charge of the fight.
Jacobs seems to be switching to southpaw for some reason. Methodical approach now by GGG landing his right jab.
Jacobs’ left and a combo in the last minute is the best he’s looked in a couple of rounds. Strong right by Golovkin knocked Jacobs back and a strong flurry at the end gives GGG the round.
L.A. Times Card: Golovkin 10-9 (Golovkin 48-46)
Golovkin vs. Jacobs Round 4: Golovkin scores early knockdown
GGG finds his power punch and knocks Jacobs to the canvas early in the round. GGG jab is landing his shots. He is chasing Jacobs around the ring and he finally looks in control.
GGG is still being careful with his jab and Jacobs doesn’t have many answers right now.
L.A. Times Card: Golovkin 10-8 (Golovkin 38-37)
Golovkin vs. Jacobs Round 3: Jacobs takes another close round
A little more action in the third, but neither fighter has done any damage. Golovkin looks more active through the first minutes of the round. It looks like the fight will see more action soon as both fighters are getting into form.
Jacobs lands a right hook that got the crowd going hear the :20 second mark of the round.
Jacobs’ size and height seem to causing GGG problems. Close round to Jacobs.
L.A. Times Card: 10-9 Jacobs (Jacobs 29-28)
Golovkin vs. Jacobs Round 2: Not a lot of action in second
Very little action in the second as both fighters are still measuring themselves up. Jacobs continues to jab while GGG is using his right more.
Not much action in second, but GGG might have done more than Jacobs by a hair.
L.A. Times Card: GGG 10-9 (GGG 19 - Jacobs 19)
Golovkin vs. Jacobs Round 1: Both boxers showing extreme caution
Golovkin and Jacobs dance around the ring for the first 30 seconds or so to chants of “GGG.”
Golovkin is wearing black trunks with GGG across the belt while Jacobs is in camo trunks.
Jacobs lands a couple of quick lefts, but for the most part both boxers are using extreme caution in the first round. Jacobs’ length will be a problem for GGG going forward as he lands some jabs near the end of the round.
Close round with very little action as both fighters are feeling each other out. Close round to Jacobs.
L.A. Times Card: Jacobs 10-9 Golovkin
Golovkin vs. Jacobs: Fighters entering ring
Shocking loss for Chocolatito against Sor Rungvisai
Cuadras gets win against Carmona
With all of the questions and so much of his pre-fight attention locked on a push for a rematch with Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez, Carlos Cuadras lost track of David Carmona’s resilience.
So instead of claiming victory by the impressive knockout he so badly wanted, Cuadras settled Saturday night for a unanimous-decision triumph over Mexico countryman David Carmona at Madison Square Garden.
Judges awarded Cuadras (36-1-1) scores of 97-93, 97-93, 96-94 in the former World Boxing Council champion’s first bout since his fight-of-the-year candidate defeat to Gonzalez in a competitive unanimous decision in September at the Forum.
The bout preceded the super-flyweight title defense by the unbeaten Gonzalez against Srisaket Sor Rungvisai and the middleweight title fight between Gennady Golovkin and Daniel Jacobs. Full coverage of those bouts can be found at latimes.com/sports.
Chocolatito down in the first round
Chocolatito Gonzalez went down with a body shot from Sor Rungvisai in the first round.
The knockdown was the second one of Chocolatito’s career. He went down in 2006 against Roberto Meza.
Gonzalez is having trouble early with Rungvisai’s power.
Cuadras doesn’t score KO, but gets win over Carmona
Golovkin vs. Jacobs: Huge number of viewers in Kazakhstan
First fight of the undercard in the books
What is GGG wearing for his fight against Jacobs?
Watch Golovkin and Jacobs enter Madison Square Garden
The undercard fights before the Gennedy Golovkin vs. Daniel Jacobs bout have begun, and the main event is not expected to start until close to 9 p.m. Pacific time.
Here is the schedule of fights and expected start times:
6 p.m.: Ryan Martin vs. Bryant Cruz, Lightweight, 10 rounds
7 p.m.: Carlos Cuadras vs. David Carmona, Super Flyweight, 10 rounds
8 p.m.: Roman Gonzalez vs. Srisaket Sor Rungvisai, Super Flyweight, 12 rounds
9 p.m.: Gennady Golovkin vs. Daniel Jacobs, Middleweight, 12 rounds
Watch Conor McGregor put the boxing world on notice
(Warning: The video below includes explicit language.)
Golovkin faces his biggest challenge yet in Jacobs
“This is my biggest fight. I understand that. I’m very excited,” Gennady Golovkin told reporters in his final interview session. “My last fights [knockouts of Kell Brook and Dominic Wade] were not the toughest. This is Madison Square, pay-per-view, New York … first class.
“Daniel looks good, and I hope he’s the best prepared. Other boxers — everybody — has helped him. It’s more dangerous, more serious this time.”