by Geoffrey Ciani (Exclusive Interview by Jenna J & Geoffrey Ciani) – This week’s 134th edition of On the Ropes Boxing Radio (brought to you by CWH Promotions) featured an exclusive interview with middleweight contender Danny Jacobs (22-1, 19 KOs). Jacobs spoke about his career and gave a detailed of account of his future plans in boxing. He also shared opinions on a variety of other subjects, including Freddie Roach, Khan-Judah, Peter Quillin, Dmitry Pirog, Pacquiao-Marquez III, and more! Here is what he had to say:
Regarding when fans can expect to see him back inside the ring:
“Seeing me back in the ring, I would probably say maybe in the beginning of next year and the only reason it’s that far away like that is because I’m recovering from a little injury that I’m going through right now. So I can see myself probably back in the ring maybe by the beginning of next year.”
On his new working relationship with highly regarded boxing trainer Freddie Roach:
“That relationship has been pretty good. Working with Freddie and being with those champions inside the ring and in the gym is only going to force me to give it my all and I think that’s what I was missing—that lacking in the gym as far as the competitiveness and trying to be the best amongst your peers. So now that I have that and I have a wonderful trainer in Freddie Roach and I think we should dominate and fix the things that I’ve been lacking on. So I’m excited about it.”
Regarding specific aspects of his game that him and Roach have been seeking to improve:
“Well basically I don’t think I do too much wrong. There are little knicks and crannies here and there to fix and tweak and maybe some defensive moves that I was lacking before. With me being so fast and my boxing ability I was able to do stuff with lesser opponents. Now that I’m stepping up in competition I have to kind of fix those bad habits and I think Freddie is helping me with that.”
On whether he intends to primarily compete in the 160 or 168 pound weight class:
“Well actively I think I’m always going to remain a middleweight. I just think we went up to super middleweight because it wasn’t an important fight. I mean all fights are important, but that fight in particular was just like a get in type of fight. Weight wasn’t really an issue, but we’re going to campaign at the middleweight division.”
On whether he feels he will have any ill effects from the time off when he eventually returns to the squared circle:
“I mean of course there will probably be a little rust, but I mean that’s why you have fights with lesser opponents. So you can get that rust out and look sharper for your next fight. So I think that’s the way it’s going to work out.”
His views on fellow middleweight contender Peter Quillin who is also trained by Freddie Roach:
“As far as Peter Quillin, I think he’s awesome. I think he’s an amazing athlete and he’s super strong for his division. His future is bright. I don’t have anything negative to say about that guy. He’s actually a cool guy to hang around, so as far as his career goes I think he has a bright future. I definitely see him getting past his next opponent because I never even heard of him. He did a pretty good job with his last opponent Jesse Brinkley and I just think he’s going to have a bright future.”
His views on the upcoming junior welterweight unification bout between Amir Khan and Zab Judah:
“I think that’s going to be an awesome fight! You know Zab Judah’s one of my favorite fighters. I think he’s extremely talented. In his past I think he really didn’t dedicate himself enough, but him switching trainers and working with Pernell Whitaker has really motivated him and I can see the difference. Following him on Twitter you can see his personality changing into a more positive light. So I just think he’s in a more positive state and I think he’s more focused than ever. I think he’s definitely hungry. With this Amir Khan fight I think it’s going to be exciting. Who’s going to win? I can’t predict a winner, but I know Amir Khan’s up to fight and Amir is going to bring that youth, that speed, and that power as well. I mean it’s one of those fights where it can go either way.”
His views on Manny Pacquiao as a fighter and his upcoming third fight against rival Juan Manuel Marquez:
“He’s fighting Marquez again? Okay, that’s pretty cool. That’s going to be a good fight. I think Pacquiao is by far the greatest fighter of our generation. I think he’s just like phenomenal. I haven’t gotten a chance to see him train yet. I mean we’ve shared training camps, but we’ve trained different times so I really haven’t had a chance to see him in action. But I’ve seen him on TV and that’s just a little bit I’m sure of what he does in the gym. Pacquiao’s a tremendous fighter and I think he’ll get past Marquez even though everybody says Marquez has his number. There is always going to be that one person that gives you a hard time, but I think Pacquiao will get through it.”
Regarding his estimated timeline for working his way back into the title picture:
“I’d probably say definitely next year. Of course in the early part of the year we want to work on getting the rust off and fixing the stuff we’ve been working on, because since March it was my last fight and going through this recovery we’ve been off for a very long time. I’ll say once they build that Brooklyn stadium, Golden Boy is going to start putting some fights there so I can get some fights there regularly. Hopefully summer time our towards the end of that year we can get something in the top five. We’ll see.”
His views on whether he stepped up too quickly when he suffered a major setback at the hands of Dmitry Pirog:
“I don’t think I was moved too soon. I just think personally, I don’t think my training camp—I think I over trained for that. I felt kind of worn out and dry when I fought Dmitry Pirog. Also, I had a lot on my mind. I was going through a lot, so it was just like things piled on top of another so I really couldn’t give it my all, but I tried. Dmirty Pirog is a hell of an athlete! I think his future is bright as well, but I definitely don’t think that situation for me was just me being pushed along too fast. I just think it was the wrong timing.”
On whether Pirog represents his primary target amongst the current middleweight champions give the fact he previously lost to him:
“Well of course he is a guy that is on the hit list. That’s definitely somebody that I have to fight again because I really do believe that I’m better than Dmitry Pirog. I believe that in my heart and hopefully I get a chance to prove it and do it in a way where it makes me satisfied where I can finally get that revenge. I think there are a lot of guys that we’re focusing on and we’re not rushing just because we have our ego in the way and we want to get Dmitry Pirog out of the way. We want to take our time and do it right. It’s a business ultimately, so we have to make the right business decisions.”
His views on the current crop of the middleweight division and whether he still believes he can become the future superstar of the weight class:
“I mean while I had a big following behind me going into the Dmitry Pirog fight. There was a lot of hype behind me and it was expected from me to take the middleweight division to the next level. Unfortunately it didn’t happen, but I think I had that charisma, I’m a pretty good looking guy, and my boxing skills to me are superb. I mean of course we have to fix a little bit here and there, but I do think I can be that next middleweight star. I think there are a lot of stars in the middleweight division, but people just overlook them. The middleweight division will never die out, at least not in the near future.”
His views on newly crowned champion Julio Cesar Chavez Junior and whether he believes he is worthy of being a champion:
“Worthy? I mean I think any man that steps into the ring, especially if they give it 100% to the best of their ability, is worthy. Do I think that he’s the best in the division? No, I don’t think that at all. I don’t know how long he’ll hold that title for, but what he lacks in talent he makes up for with heart. Anybody who trains hard and gives it their all and fights somebody with better skills, if anything is lacking in that guy with the better skills that mean with the bigger heart will ultimately come out on top. I do think that Chavez has tremendous heart, but I just don’t think that he has the skills to keep the title. That’s just my personal opinon.”
On what kind of year fans can expect from him in 2012:
“I think that’s going to be a big year for me, 2012. I really do. I think my plan right now is working on the greatest comeback story of my time, or at least in my mind. I think 2012 is going to be phenomenal for me. I’ve been out of the ring for a long time now and I’ve been dying to come back. So as I continue to have my little injury break, I’m going to focus on the game and try to sharpen my skills so I can come back with a big bang.”
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For those interested in listening to the Danny Jacobs interview in its entirety, it begins approximately one hour and ten minutes into the program.
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