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The former middleweight titleholder has an idea for his next fight, and then he wants to go after a belt at 168.
Daniel Jacobs spoke with Eddie Hearn today on Instagram Live, giving an update on where he is during this boxing shutdown, and talking about his future now that he’s at 168 pounds.
The biggest change, Jacobs says, is he no longer has bad struggles to make weight, as he did when he was in his final fight sat 160 pounds.
“It’s time to be comfortable and be excited about bigger and better things,” he said. “I’m excited about the super middleweight division.”
Asked how he rates the four super middleweight titleholders — Callum Smith, Billy Joe Saunders, Caleb Plant, and David Benavidez — Jacobs didn’t pick a top guy, but does have a pick for the last on the list, even with due respect paid to him, as well.
“I would say all those guys are top fighters. I would probably put Plant at the bottom,” Jacobs said. “I think Plant is good but I think he’s beatable. I see a lot of flaws in his game. Benavidez is probably the strongest I’ve seen. Now these guys have my attention, and I’m gonna be studying to look forward to what’s next for me.”
As for what’s next, Jacobs (36-3, 30 KO) says he’s looking to get in one more fight at 168 to fully adjust to the weight in the ring, and then he’s ready for the top names. He also has his opponent in mind, and it’s no surprise if you’ve followed either guy on social media.
“There’s this little weasel in my spine and his name is Gabe Rosado,” Jacobs said with a laugh. “He’s been annoying the hell out of me. Lord have mercy, this guy, man.”
Rosado (25-12-1, 14 KO) was famously on standby for the December fight between Jacobs and Chavez, ready to step in for Chavez if something went wrong with the licensing or anything else. Chavez managed to get a license, then missed weight, but the fight went on anyway with an adjusted last-minute catchweight.
Since then, Rosado has barked about Jacobs consistently online. Jacobs has a simple mindset about a fight with the tough journeyman: “He’s food.”
After Rosado, if that fight happens, the 33-year-old former middleweight titleholder says he’ll step in with one of the top-tier guys at 168, and says the fights excite him as a competitor.
“The top-notch fights are exciting because they’re all good, they’ll all test me,” he said. “I finally have a chance to be comfortable. Give me another opportunity to get acclimated, and then let’s go for the gusto.”
