{"id":5475,"date":"2019-05-03T15:00:10","date_gmt":"2019-05-03T15:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/?p=5475"},"modified":"2019-05-04T03:59:05","modified_gmt":"2019-05-04T03:59:05","slug":"canelo-alvarez-daniel-jacobs-set-for-middleweight-unification-bout","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/sports\/canelo-alvarez-daniel-jacobs-set-for-middleweight-unification-bout\/","title":{"rendered":"Canelo Alvarez, Daniel Jacobs Set For Middleweight Unification Bout"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In what should be the most competitive boxing event of the year so far Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez will take on Daniel Jacobs at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday night. At stake are the three middleweight title belts held by the two men. The boxing betting odds<\/a> have installed Alvarez as a strong -500 favorite with takeback on Jacobs at +405.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This fight will be the second on Alvarez’s 11-fight, $365 million deal with streaming service DAZN and is considered the biggest fight of the year so far. The buildup to Saturday night’s fight had been characterized by downright gentlemanly behavior in marked contrast to the histrionics typically associated with boxing promotion. In fact, some considered it downright ‘boring’ as Alvarez and Jacobs conducted themselves civilly and addressed each other with respect in the media and at joint press conferences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That was until Friday’s weigh in–the first time that anything approximating ‘bad blood’ had surfaced. At the ceremonial ‘face off’ pose at the end of the weigh in the two fighters put their heads together like mountain goats in breeding season. Jacobs then tried to push Alvarez’s head back with his own. Alvarez retaliated with a shove of his own and a brief skirmish broke out between the two camps. The fracas was quickly brought to a conclusion as the partisan Alvarez crowd, many whom had traveled to Las Vegas for Cinco de Mayo weekend, voiced their approval.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jacobs is the naturally larger man and will have a two inch height advantage along with a 2.5 inch reach advantage. Both men made weight–Canelo weighed in at 159.5 pounds with Jacobs coming in at the division limit of 160 pounds–but the Alvarez camp insisted on a ‘re-hydration clause’ in the contract. The concern was that Jacobs would ‘bulk up’ overnight so both fighters will need to be at or below 170 pounds as of 8 AM Saturday morning. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alvarez is four years younger than Jacobs but has considerably more experience both in terms of quantity of fights and quality of opponents. Alvarez is 51-1-2 with 35 knockouts which includes decision wins over Gennady Golovkin and Miguel Cotto. His only loss came to Floyd Mayweather in 2013. Jacobs is 35-2 with 29 KO victories. His best quality wins are to a couple of good but not great fighters in Caleb Truax and Sergio Mora. His losses were to Dimitry Pirog by 5th round TKO in 2010 and to Gennady Golovkin by unanimous decision in 2017.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While much of the pricing on this fight is dictated by Alvarez’s overwhelming popularity and superior name recognition his status as a strong favorite is definitely justified. Jacobs didn’t look particularly impressive in his last bout against Sergiy Derevyanchenko last October at Madison Square Garden. Nevertheless, he picked up the vacant IBF World Middleweight Title with a split decision win. Jacobs’ best shot to beat Alvarez will be to use his superior height and reach to stay on the outside which will simultaneously allow him to pick up points and could frustrate his opponent. The problem is that Jacobs isn’t known as a patient fighter and is given to lapses in focus–particularly those of a defensive nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

‘Canelo’ Alvarez is simply the better fighter and has more ways to win. His power isn’t as devastating as it was at 154 or 147 but still must be respected. If Jacobs thinks that he can just physically overpower Canelo his night could end staring up at the T-Mobile Arena lights. Canelo doesn’t necessarily need brute power to get a stoppage–he’s the more accurate puncher and the superior counterpuncher. And despite the physical size edge to Jacobs there’s a good chance that Canelo has more raw power. Of course, Canelo doesn’t need to get the stoppage to get the victory. He’s on the verge of becoming a truly elite fighter and is completely capable of winning a decision. Personally, I’m expecting Canelo to put on an impressive demonstration of his superior boxing skills and win a lopsided decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ‘X-factor’ could be Canelo’s huge popularity and status as a moneymaking fighter. One of the best pieces of boxing handicapping advice I’ve ever received: “when in doubt, follow the money”. Dave Moretti, Glenn Feldman and Steve Weisfeld will be the judges here–they were the same judges that gave Canelo a narrow win over Gennady Golovkin last September. Tony Weeks will be the third man in the ring and thanks to a recent decision by the Nevada State Athletic Commission he now has access to instant replay should making a ‘close call’ become necessary. Canelo will also get to wear the ‘No Boxing No Life’ brand of gloves for this fight after they were not approved by the NSAC for his fight against Gennady Golovkin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Canelo could need some time to get in a rhythm due to Jacobs’ size and movement. Once he does, however, he should take over the fight. He’s the better fighter, the younger fighter, the more experienced fighter and arguably the more powerful fighter. I’ll play him to win by decision despite some concern that he could end the bout via stoppage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

BET SAUL ‘CANELO’ ALVAREZ BY DECISION OVER DANIEL JACOBS -120<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n


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