Daniel Jacobs heads into hostile territory for the first defense of his secondary middleweight title. The cancer survivor-turned-champ takes on Caleb Truax - a cult favorite form Minnesota - in a scheduled 12-round bout Friday evening at UIC Pavilion in Chicago, Illinois.
The bout will air on Spike TV, along with a super middleweight clash between defending unbeaten titlist Anthony Dirrell and resurgent contender Badou Jack.
Boxing never figured to be a part of Jacobs' recovery period after being diagnosed with and treated for osteosarcoma, an aggressive form of bone cancer. The life-threatening disease was no match for Jacobs, who enjoyed a triumphant ring return in Dec. '12 at Madison Square Garden, mere miles from his home in Brooklyn, New York.
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A true homecoming came in his last fight, a second attempt at a major title. Jacobs realized his dream of becoming a champion, knocking out Australia's Jarrod Fletcher in the 5th round of their Showtime-televised title fight at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
The bout came four years after his previous bid to win a belt, suffering a 5th round knockout at the hands of Dmitry Pirog for his lone career loss to date.
Truax (25-1-2, 15KOs) was far more celebrated in his lone loss, a 10-round decision to a then-comebacking Jermain Taylor in April '12. The scoring was academic, but Truax provided late drama after flooring Taylor in the ninth round.
The middleweight gatekeeper is unbeaten in his last eight starts, heading into his first title challenge.
Read on to see how the staff at BoxingScene.com believes the action will play out.
BOXINGSCENE.COM STAFF PREDICTIONS: DANIEL JACOBS vs. CALEB TRUAX
Ryan Burton (Truax SD): Just a hunch. Jacobs is the better fighter but I have a feeling Truax will score a knockdown and eke out a split decision upset victory.
Jake Donovan (Jacobs late TKO): Look for a highly motivated performance from Jacobs in becoming the first to stop Truax, who remains on his feet but is bludgeoned into defeat.
David Greisman (Jacobs UD): I know that there are those pulling for Truax to get the upset victory, and that's no surprise given how the likable Truax has built up a fan-following through his Twitter interactions. But in the ring, I think it'll be Jacobs' amateur pedigree and good speed that make a difference. Truax started boxing relatively late and has worked his way up, improving all along. Jacobs isn't a perfect fighter, as we've seen with his loss to Dmitry Pirog years ago and his gradual comeback from cancer. Still, Jacobs will be smoother, swifter and better and will sustain Truax's effort en route to a clear decision.
John MacDonald (Jacobs UD): Jacobs may fall short at the elite level but Truax is not that. Jacobs to retain his title comfortably.
Takahiro Onaga (Jacobs KO6): Jacobs is explosive and will make light work of Truax who is still flattered by fight with Taylor.
Cliff Rold (Jacobs TKO): Different classes of fighters. Jacobs should control him with the jab and eventually force a stop.
Victor Salazar (Jacobs UD): This could be one of the better matchups of the weekend. I think Truax will give Danny Jacobs some tough rounds but ultimately the pedigree of Jacobs will lead him to a unanimous decision.
Reynaldo Sanchez (Jacobs UD): Truax will be busy early at this fights…but Jacobs later will impose his skills and maybe the power to get another victory by KO or win by points without difficulty.
Alexey Sukachev (Jacobs UD): Jacobs is way better as a boxer, but Truax is very tough and durable. Even if he loses every round (and he most probaby will), he will make Daniel fight for his money and go the distance.
Stacey Verbeek (Jacobs UD): In what will be only his seconnd fight outside his NY home state since his return to the ring after being sidelined with cancer, "Miracle Child" Jacobs is going to go the distance against crowd favorite Truax, a durable opponent with a strong chin who has never been stopped.
Totals: Jacobs – 8 Truax – 1
Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
