‘Miracle Man’ and cancer survivor Daniel Jacobs says facing Gennady Golovkin on Saturday night in New York, live on Boxnation, will not be the toughest challenge of his life.
In 2011, Jacobs was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer, after a tumour was found on his his spine. The American was told he would not box again, yet he made a full recovery and has stopped all 10 of his opponents since his return.
Speaking to journalists this week, he stated: “Golovkin is not cancer. This is not a life-threatening situation. This is a man coming to inflict some harm to me.
“Where the cancer and going through all my ordeals helped was strengthening my mental capacity and allowing myself to, once again, have my back against the wall and having everyone doubt me,” he added.
Golovkin puts his WBC, WBA, IBO ‘Super’ and IBF World Middleweight Titles on the line at Madison Square Garden, and Jacobs believes many of the Kazakh’s opponents are mentally defeated before they enter the ring because of the fear factor.
Golovkin realizes that Jacobs will be a very dangerous opponent and possibly the biggest test of his career to date.
“This is my biggest fight. I understand that. I’m very excited,” Golovkin told reporters in his final interview session. “My last fights [knockouts of Kell Brook and Dominic Wade] were not the toughest. This is Madison Square, pay-per-view, New York … first class.
“Daniel looks good and I hope he’s the best prepared. Other boxers — everybody — has helped him. It’s more dangerous, more serious this time.”
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