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A22 SPORTS
Thursday 2 May 2019
After beating cancer, fight isn't too big for Jacobs

By TIM DAHLBERG Jacobs he would probably
LAS VEGAS (AP) — The mo- not walk again, much less
ment won't be too big for fight.
Daniel Jacobs, of that he's And now he's in a bout that
certain. will make him millions of dol-
Not after going toe-to-toe lars — and could make him
with the fearsome Gen- one of the most sought-af-
nady Golovkin before ter fighters around.
dropping a narrow deci- "I never thought about this
sion. Not after beating can- opportunity," Jacobs said.
cer that doctors were sure "I always just wanted to
would end his career, if not give back to boxing and
his life. see how far I could take it.
Canelo Alvarez will be just But I never thought I would
another obstacle in front fight for a world champi-
of him when they meet onship. I mean, this is the
Saturday night in a middle- greatest opportunity that I
weight title unification fight. could even have, let alone
"It's not my first rodeo," Ja- dream about."
cobs said. "I don't look for- The opportunity came
ward to being nervous. If about largely because
anything I'm excited." Jacobs put on the perfor-
A lot of boxing fans are mance of his career before
excited, too, about a In this March 1, 2019, file photo, WBC and WBA middleweight world champion Canelo Alvarez, dropping a decision to Go-
second from left, and IBF middleweight world champion Daniel Jacobs, second from right, pose
160-pound title fight that is with their title belts during a press conference in Mexico City. lovkin in 2017 in a fight that
the prime attraction in this Associated Press could have gone either
gambling city on Cinco de way. He helped himself
Mayo weekend. He was once "The Golden heard it, so I share it as on his mother's couch as he more by winning a piece of
On one side is the 28-year- Child," a tough Brooklyn much as I can talk about it." tried desperately to beat a the middleweight crown his
old Mexican champion prospect with skills ad- Jacobs shared it a little rare form of cancer while last time out, a split-deci-
and one of the top five vanced far beyond his more this week, taking a somehow keeping alive his sion win over Sergiy Derevy-
pound-for-pound fight- age. He became "The Mir- break from training to look dream of boxing, too. anchenko.
ers in the game. Alvarez acle Man" after beating a back at the winding path "Sleepless nights," Jacobs After two close battles of
ducks nobody, and his own cancerous tumor in 2011 his career has taken since said. "Times where I used to his own with Triple G, Alva-
two fights against Golovkin that damaged his nerves turning pro a dozen years cry. Times where I used to rez was looking for a dif-
were textbook perfor- and paralyzed his legs. ago. even doubt if I would walk ferent opponent on what
mances for those studying It's a story that only boxing He talked about being right again." traditionally is a big pay-
boxing styles in the future. could deliver. And it's one knocked out in Las Vegas The cancer was osteosar- per-view fight weekend for
And then there's Jacobs, Jacobs is happy to let ev- nine years ago. He talked coma, an aggressive form him in Las Vegas. Instead of
the 32-year-old who has eryone know about. about being particularly of the disease that caused pay-per-view, the fight is on
conquered the usual ob- "I never get tired of telling nervous for a fight he end- a tumor to wrap around his DAZN, and Alvarez-Jacobs
stacles put in the way of my story," he said. "I know ed up winning with an early spine. Doctors removed it is being counted on to sell
any fighter — and then that there's somebody out knockout. during a six-hour surgery, subscriptions to the stream-
some. in the world who hasn't And he talked about living but not before they told ing service.q

Ruiz Jr. replaces Miller as opponent for Anthony Joshua

NEW YORK (AP) — Andy the first time in the United win, everything is going to
Ruiz Jr. will look to become States. change. It's going to mean
Mexico's first heavyweight "Similar styles, big and everything."
champion after replacing strong, very good with his Joshua also has called for
Jarrell Miller as the oppo- punch selection and it's still more stringent regulations
nent for unbeaten WBA, going to go ahead at MSG for boxers who fail doping
IBF and WBO titleholder on June 1," Joshua said of tests, saying the "random
Anthony Joshua. Ruiz Jr. six-month ban" handed to
Miller was withdrawn from "This is the next best shot — Miller isn't enough of a de-
the June 1 fight at Madison who else is there? If anyone terrent.
Square Garden after dop- could name anyone who "If I carry a weapon of de-
ing violations. was better, then I was all struction, I'm going to get
The 29-year-old Ruiz Jr., ears. But when we looked a certain amount of time
who is based in California, at the scope of who was in jail, so you know (the
gets his second shot at a British boxer Anthony Joshua laughs, prior to a media session at available, this was the next consequences of what
world title, having lost on the English institute of Sport, in Sheffield, England, Wednesday best one." will happen)," Joshua told
points to then-WBO cham- May 1, 2019. Ruiz said Joshua's fighting Britain's Press Association
pion Joseph Parker in De- Associated Press style was "like a robot." from his training base in
cember 2016. "I think with my style, my Sheffield, England. "It's like,
That is his only loss in 33 pro- page of Alexander Dimit- hasn't fought since beat- speed, my movement, I 'Why did he only get six
fessional fights. His last fight renko. ing Alexander Povetkin at don't think he's fought any- months?' It should be, 'Mill-
was 10 days ago, when he Joshua has a 22-0 record, Wembley Stadium in Sep- body like me," Ruiz Jr. said. er's definitely getting this.'
forced the fifth-round stop- with 21 knockouts. He tember, and is boxing for "When I do pull out this That's my opinion on it."q