Juan Manuel Marquez takes on Juan Diaz this Saturday, July 31, in a rematch of the 2009 Fight of the Year. The bout headlines an HBO pay-per-view event in Las Vegas at Mandalay Bay. In the coming days, Inside Fights will preview the four fights being featured on the pay-per-view telecast. First up, Daniel Jacobs and Dmitry Pirog in a middleweight title bout.
Daniel Jacobs vs. Dmitry Pirog
Money Line: Jacobs -125; Pirog -105
WBO Middleweight Title
Daniel Jacobs (20-0, 17 KOs) has been tabbed as a can’t-miss prospect all the way down to his nickname, The Golden Child. This Saturday, Jacobs will be vying for his first world title. Time for the prospect to start realizing his potential, which is rather remarkable when you consider Jacobs turned 23 years-old this year. The young New Yorker has picked up the game at an exponential rate. He’s a powerful puncher with a stiff jab. He’s more poised than you would expect from someone with less than three years of professional ring experience. Jacobs has fought less than three rounds in 2010 so it is reasonable to think that Jacobs could get off to a slow start this Saturday.
If Jacobs starts slow, then expect Dmitry Pirog (16-0, 13 KOs) to make him pay for it. A solid puncher himself, Pirog will be looking to make a big name for himself in his U.S. debut. What better way for the 30-year-old Russian to make a name for himself than by handing The Golden Child his first loss? The pressure will be on both men to put on a good show, but more importantly, leave Las Vegas with their unblemished record intact. The vacant WBO middleweight title goes to the winner, as does a more financially lucrative future. While each man is taking a step up in competition by fighting one another, the loser will be taking two steps back.
I expect a slow, feeling out process to start and a more cautious, tactical fight than fans will probably be interested in seeing. Give it to Jacobs by decision in the neighborhood of 117-111.
