Jacobs wins hard-fought decision, Taylor now unified champion
By John J. Raspanti
Itching for a rematch with middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin, or a showdown with Jermall Charlo, former titleholder Daniel Jacobs used speed and power to win a unanimous 12 decision over gutsy Maciej Sulecki at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY. last night.
All three judges scored the fight for Jacobs by scores of 116-111, 117-
110 and 115-112.
Maxboxing had Jacobs winning by a 115-112 tally.
Jacobs (34-2, 29 KOs) circled to his left in the opening stanza, while Sulecki (26-1, 10 KOs) hooked off his jab. The undefeated Polish fighter won the first round with activity.
In rounds two and three, Jacobs,31, began to find the range with his jab. He also went to the body. Sulecki, rangy like Jacobs, connected with a right. Jacobs switched back and forth between southpaw and orthodox, catching Sulecki with a number of good right hands.
Jacobs unloaded a crisp combination in round four including a sweeping left hook at the bell. Sulecki,28, absorbed the blows and went back to boxing. Jacobs maintained his advantage in rounds five and six. He landed a number of hard combination to the belly. His jab was also landing. Sulecki connected with a right that got Jacobs attention.
Sulecki found some success in the next stanza. He backed up Jacobs with hooks to the head. Jacobs fought back with shots downstairs.
Jacobs flashed quick hands in rounds seven and eight, but Sulecki hung tough with activity. He landed another right to the chin in round nine. Jacobs came back with a sharp uppercut. He backed up Sulecki and unloaded.
With three rounds to go in the match, Jacobs appeared to be ahead by a few rounds. Sulecki was fighting well in spurts, but Jacobs speed and athletic ability was giving the hometown fighter the edge.
Jacobs listened to his trainer and went back attacking the body in rounds 10 and 11. He cracked Sulecki with a left hook. He boxed well, but Sulecki fired rights and lefts—a number landed. He also found Jacobs chin with a few more rights to the chin.
Sulecki’s rally came to a sudden halt when a huge right hand deposited him on the canvas in the opening seconds of the 12th round. Sulecki got up and punched back. Jacobs wanted the knockout, but Sulecki rolled and ducked. Both boxers landed hard rights at the bell.
“He (Sulecki) was a tough customer,” said Jacobs.”I abandoned the jab and tried to go for the knockout.”
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It only took WBA lightweight champion Katie Taylor nine fights to add the IBF title to her resume. Using speed and accuracy, Taylor won an exciting 10 round unanmious decision Victoria Bustos Saturday night on the undercard of the Jacobs vs. Sulecki fight.
The scores were 99-91 twice and 98-92 for Taylor.
The 2012 gold medalist started fast, peppering the slower Bustos with head shots. Bustos did better in round four, finally catching Taylor with some punches, but eating counter shots in return.
Taylor (9-0, 4 KOs) rocked Bustos (18-5, 0)with power shots in rounds five and six. Bustos, showing the pride of a champion, cracked Taylor in round seven, but the punches had no effect on the eventual winner. Taylor popped and moved, showing excellent footwork.
Bustos, way behind on the judges’ scorecards, went for the gusto in the 10th and final round, but Taylor was a hair faster and made her pay.
"I’m thrilled to unify the titles. It’s a dream come true," Taylor told Sky Sports after beating Argentine Bustos.
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