By Victor Salazar

New York - One of the more interested parties who was ringside for the fight between Canelo Alvarez (49-1-2, 34 KO’s) and Rocky Fielding (27-2, 15 KO’s), was IBF middleweight champion Daniel Jacobs.

In most eyes, that’s the next fight Canelo should take which is penciled in for May 4th, Cinco De Mayo weekend, in Las Vegas.

However, Golden Boy CEO and Canelo’s Promoter, Oscar De La Hoya, stated in an interview that Canelo was not fighting Jacobs (32-2, 29 KO’s) next or Gennady Golovkin (38-1-1, 34 KO’s) for that matter. That lead most people to believe that Canelo’s Golden Boy stablemate, David Lemieux (40-4, 34 KO’s), was next in line for Canelo had he won his bout this past Saturday.

But Lemieux was forced to withdraw from his fight due to dehydration and the inability to make weight.

According to Lemieux's handlers, he is no longer going to fight in the middleweight division and plans to move up to super middleweight for his next bout.

Because of the recent events, Jacobs now believes he is in the driver’s seat for securing the Canelo fight.

“I think I’m 80 percent getting that fight,” Jacobs told BoxingScene.com.

"I want that fight in Las Vegas, it would be a dream come true. Anything can happen in boxing and you can’t be 100 percent confident until the contracts are signed. If it can happen I’m 100 percent sure Canelo will get the best version of me.”

Though Jacobs is a fan of Canelo, he felt his performance against Fielding was expecting.

“If he fights this fight with me, it’s a different fight,” stated Jacobs. “I would come forward but I’m also fast and strong. Fielding didn’t offer much. It was a one-sided fight.

Jacobs feels that his level picks up when he’s in there against the best.

“I just think the level of competitions I’m fighting, they all been undefeated,” explained Jacobs. “I have one of the best resumes at 160. Styles make fights and he’s (Canelo) nothing like any of my opponents or vice versa. He’s the pinnacle and 50-50 fights bring out the best in me. I been fighting really good guys but this is the pinnacle.”

Canelo is one fight in his 5 year 11 fight 365 million dollar deal with streaming service DAZN. Jacobs feels the level of opposition needs to pick up for Canelo to be worth that deal. He believes that is him.

“DAZN wants the best fights that the world wants to see and I think I am that. I think they were trying to angle more to their own stable with Lemieux. It was unfortunate what happened to him but I want to take advantage of the opportunity. The best version of me beats Canelo,” Jacobs said.