In a tale that personifies resilience, Daniel Jacobs refused to give up on his dreams, overcoming cancer to win two world championship belts.
With the legendary boxer’s career coming to an end, we’re looking back at a tale that will go down as one of the greatest in sporting history.
Daniel Jacobs beat cancer to conquer the world of boxing
Born in Brooklyn, New York, USA, Daniel Jacobs was always bound to discover boxing. After all, when you grow up in the same area that produced the great Mike Tyson, you’re bound to be somewhat curious about the possibility of a career in the ring.
From the moment he first walked into a gym, the natural athlete fell in love with the sport, going on a successful run as an amateur, winning the United States national championships.
Upon turning professional, the gifted fighter made an instant impression, exhibiting thunderous power and tremendous reflexes, to compile an impressive 20-0 record.
However, he then faced his first piece of adversity, losing via stoppage to Dmitry Pirog. But rather than let the loss weigh him down, he battled back, winning his next two contests.
At this point, Jacobs looked back on track to scale the boxing mountain. Alas, tragedy struck—the American was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer.
With not just his career but his life on the line, the spartan was forced to put his aspirations on pause and dedicate every fiber of his being to winning the toughest battle of his life.
While many a fighter would’ve given up on their goals, a defiant Jacobs refused, fighting tooth and nail to return to doing what he does best.
In a testament to his remarkable spirit, the New Yorker recovered. After 19 months away from the ring, he returned to winning ways, earning the moniker of ‘The Miracle Man’, setting the wheels in motion to write one of the greatest stories the sport has ever seen.
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Daniel Jacobs wins two world titles
On a night he’ll never forget, the cancer survivor completed his sporting destiny, defeating Jarrod Fletcher to win the WBA middleweight championship belt.
The win served as an inspiration for millions around the world, with many people suffering from cancer grasping hold of his achievement as a beacon of hope.
The sportsman made four successful defenses of his belt, including victories over his rivals Sergio Mora and Peter Quillin, before stepping up to the plate for a significant clash with Gennady Golovkin.
At that point, the Kazakhstani had destroyed every fighter who’d dared set foot in the ring with him, sending shivers down the spines of even the bravest of boxers.
Thus, when Jacobs hit the canvas in the fourth round, he could’ve very easily succumbed to the same fate as many men before him. But once again, showcasing his iron will, he fought back from the brink, producing a tremendous display of boxing, landing powerful shots and making the icon miss with his impressive head movement.
At the end of the fight, many were surprised to see ‘Triple G’s’ hand raised, with fans across the globe claiming they believed Jacobs had done enough to earn the decision.
Regardless, the charismatic operator refused to let the situation get the better of him. Within three fights, he was a world champion again, this time beating Sergiy Derevyanchenko to win the IBF super middleweight title, cementing his status as a two-division King.
He later lost the belt to Canelo Alvarez, but the result didn’t mark the end of his career, with the warrior earning more big wins against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr and Gabriel Rosado.
Therefore, while Jacobs has just announced his retirement following a defeat to Shane Mosley Jr, he won’t be remembered for the losses—but for the amazing things he accomplished under the most difficult of circumstances.
Exhibiting a level of mental determination we should all aspire to have, Jacobs has solidified his position as a true sporting great, with a journey so remarkable it’s carved its own special place in the boxing history books.
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