Golovkin already at 160 for Jacobs fight

BoxingNews24.com

By Eric Baldwin: With one day to go before Friday’s weigh-in, IBF/IBO/WBA/WBC middleweight champion Gennady “GGG” Golovkin has already made the 160 pound limit for his fight against Daniel Jacobs on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden in New York. Golovkin started training camp at a lighter weight of 170 lbs. compared to his previous camps, and his weight has been slightly less for his weight checks at 30 and 7 days.

Golovkin’s trainer Abel Sanchez says his weight is right about the same amount as it’s been in the past, but it appears that Golovkin is lighter by 5 or so lbs. That might not be a big deal if Golovkin were facing someone out of his league like welterweight Kell Brook or Dominic Wade, but he’s going to be facing a very big fighter in 6’0” Jacobs, who could come into the fight weighing close to 180 lbs. on Saturday night. Golovkin’s 30-day weight was at 165 lbs. If that’s the weight that he rehydrates to on Saturday, then he could be outweighed by close to 15 pounds by Jacobs. The weight advantage for Jacobs will be a tough obstacle for Golovkin to overcome.

“Yesterday before breakfast he weighed ’60,” Sanchez said to RingTV.com. “The weights have been the same as he’s been for the last six or seven fights. That’s been recorded. So, no, I think we did everything the way we’ve been doing it. Nothing was different. I believe in preparing him the best that I can prepare him and not so much to fight Jacobs. So, we’ll see Saturday night.”

Golovkin looks thinner for this fight than he has in the past, and that’s not good for him. It’s bad news potentially if Golovkin is lighter for this fight because he’s facing such a big guy. Jacobs is a large middleweight, who could fight at super middleweight if he chose to. Jacobs has the frame and the power to compete at 168. In fact, most of Jacobs’ fight during his career has been at super middleweight. He’s fought middleweights at above the 160 lb. limit in over 20 fights.

Jacobs may surprise some boxing fans by the way he goes after Golovkin on Saturday. A lot of people think Jacobs is going to turn tail and run the moment the fight starts, but I don’t think he will. With Jacobs’ size, he’s got the tools to beat Golovkin at his own game by trading power shots. Jacobs has the hand speed going for him in addition to his height and reach. The power is almost equal between the two fighters. Golovkin might hit a little bit harder but not by much.

“I hope that Jacobs is light enough on his feet that he can stay away from this guy,” Sanchez said. “Because if he can, then it’s going to present a challenge and be a difficult fight. But if he can’t and he’s too heavy, then I think it will go against him.”

Golovkin had problems with the size and height of Martin Murray a couple of years ago. Jacobs is just as big as Murray, but with more power and speed. Murray was able to take Golovkin’s power because of his size advantage. Jacobs could absorb Triple G’s shots as well without any problems and pull off the upset.