Saturday night at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, in a fight televised live on Showtime, Daniel “Miracle Man” Jacobs (31-1, 28 KOs), hailing from Brownsville, Brooklyn, New York, successfully defended his WBA World middleweight title by crushing Peter Quillin (32-1-1, 23 KOs), from Brooklyn by way of Grand Rapids, Michigan, at 1:25 of first round, handing the former WBO middleweight champion the first loss of his career.
Jacobs, fighting out of the blue corner in green and camouflage trunks, wasted no time in bringing the fight to his challenger.
Fighting out of the red corner in white and black trunks, Quillin was believed to be the bigger bomber of the two, but Jacobs fought like a man possessed.
No sooner had the opening bell rang than Jacobs threw a jab followed by a big right that buckled Quillin’s knees. Jacobs jumped on Quillin, throwing a fusillade of punches at his head and body. “Kid Chocolate” retreated to the ropes where another right hand greeted him like a bolt out of hell. Stunned, he stumbled backward, his legs going this way and that, while his eyes rolled ominously inside his skull.
Quillin unsteadily took the fighter’s stance, once a fighter always a fighter, suggesting that he wanted to continue, but Queer Street was undulating beneath his feet.
Referee Harvey Dock stepped in and waved it off. It was good stoppage, not a premature stoppage as some allege. Quillin was hurt and hurt bad. He might have wanted to go out on his shield, but Dock thought better of it.
“I want to say thank you to Peter Quillin for giving me this opportunity to bless this ring with him,” said Jacobs after the fight. “He’s a fine gentleman. I respect him to the utmost. I hope he’s okay, and all we can do is pray for him for the future. I was patient. I knew he was going to come in and I was able to slip some of his punches. And when I came with an upper shot—I realized I hurt him and that’s when I went in for the kill.
“I love him,” Jacobs continued. “He’s a brother of mine. Peter Quillin is fighting for the same reasons I’m fighting for. Me and Peter Quillin go back since the Golden Gloves days. I have nothing but the utmost respect for him and his family. I love them to death, but I knew this night would be my night.”
Daniel Jacobs vs. Peter Quillin photos by Sumio Yamada
This article was penned by the author who is not related to the WBA and the statements, expressions or opinions referenced herein are that of the author alone and not the WBA.
