WBA World middleweight champion Danny “Miracle Man” Jacobs (30-1, 27 KOs), hailing from Brownsville, New York, successfully defended his title Saturday night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, by stopping Sergio “The Latin Snake” Mora (28-4-2, 9 KOs), from Los Angeles, California, at 2:55 of round two.
Fighting out of the blue corner in blue trunks with red and white trim, Jacobs was the favorite coming in. He is six years younger than The Latin Snake. He was also fighting in front of a partisan crowd that cheered every punch he threw.
Mora, fighting out of the red corner in black trunks with gold trim, has been in several wars and his face bears the scars of those battles. He may have won his last five fights, but he’s on the downside of his career.
Both men were cautious at the opening bell. Mora was the busier fighter, moving in and out and dictating the pace. Jacobs hadn’t thrown a meaningful punch when he landed a right hook/uppercut that dropped Mora to the canvas. The Latin Snake got to his feet. He was playing it safe and keeping away. Jacobs, looking for a knockout, was reckless. Out of position, indifferent to defense, Mora nailed him with a right hand that put him down. The champion made it to feet, but he was wobbly at the bell.
It was a great round that the busier Mora won 10-9.
At the bell to start round two, Mora came out aggressively. He had said he was coming to Brooklyn to win and that was how he fought. Jacobs, who hadn’t tasted canvas since his 2010 loss to Dmitry Pirog, wasn’t taking any chances. The Mora’s 34-year-old legs are at this point adequate at best. As a nothing second round was drawing to a close, Jacobs dropped Mora again. He fell awkwardly. He grimaced. He was hurt. Mora beat the count, but he could barely walk. The referee Gary Rosato waved it off.
After the fight Mora said, “I think I broke my ankle. I heard it pop.”
It was a bad way for the fight to end, especially a fight that started with such promise.
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.
