Standing taller and more muscular than Golovkin at Friday’s weigh-in, Brooklyn’s Daniel Jacobs provides the most substantial obstacle yet for the Southland-based Kazakhstan champion. Golovkin needs a victory to advance to a potential mega-fight in September against Canelo Alvarez.
“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.”
While Jacobs has leaned on the boxing counsel of unbeaten light-heavyweight champion Andre Ward and employed innovative conditioning techniques, Golovkin,meanwhile, maintained the regimen implemented by trainer Abel Sanchez at his Big Bear gym that has led to a string of 23 consecutive knockouts.
While Golovkin has respect for Jacobs’ grit in recovering from a 2011-12 bout against a cancerous tumor on his spine, he said any kindness evaporates once he steps into the ring.
“It’s sport,” Golovkin said flatly.
Seeking his 18th consecutive middleweight title victory — two shy of Bernard Hopkins’ record — the 34-year-old Golovkin (36-0, 33 knockouts) has spent more than half of his career feeling ignored.
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