Jacobs-Fletcher For WBA Title Targeted For August in NY

By Mike Coppinger

Danny Jacobs is getting his second crack at a version of the middleweight title.

The cancer survivor announced via his verified Twitter account that he will be facing Australia's Jarrod Fletcher for the vacant WBA middleweight title on either August 2 or August 9 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. The welterweight bout between IBF champion Shawn Porter and mandatory Kell Brook is also being targeted for the August 9 date.

"Jarrod Fletcher vs. myself for the WBA middleweight championship of the world," the Brooklyn native tweeted. "Aug 2nd or 9th at the Barclay center (in) Brooklyn NY. Just waiting on my moment. #TeamJacobs #MiracleMan."

The title became vacant after Gennady Golovkin was elevated to "super" champion in order to bypass his mandatory against Fletcher and face Daniel Geale on July 26 at MSG.

Fletcher is the WBA's No. 2 contender and Jacobs the organization's No. 4. Geale is No. 3 while Dmitry Chudinov is already the WBA's interim champ and the No. 1 contender.

Jacobs (27-1, 24 KOs) lost in his only title opportunity, a fifth-round stoppage to Dmitry Pirog in 2010. Fletcher (18-1, 10 KOs) suffered his only pro defeat in 2012, a second-round TKO to world-class middleweight Billy Joe Saunders.

Following the bout, the WBA will have three champions at 160 pounds.

Follow Mike Coppinger on Twitter: @MikeCoppinger