Daniel Jacobs is a fighter in more ways than one. As an entrepreneur, champion boxer, cancer survivor, philanthropist, commentator and parent, the Former WBA Middleweight World Champion will be battling it out on October 27 at the Hulu Theater from Madison Square Garden against boxer Sergiy Derevyanchenko for the World Middleweight Title. Jacobs held the WBA title from 2014 to 2017 and holds an impressive career record of 36 fights, 34 wins, 29 wins by KO and 2 losses.
The fight will be watched by millions around the world and it will be a bittersweet one for the HBO network. After 45 years of bringing sensational, gripping and dramatic boxing events to fans, HBO World Champion Boxing will no longer be televising anymore fights. The network is leaving the boxing business for good.
Known as the “Miracle Man” in the industry for his will and drive to make a comeback after being diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a serious form of bone cancer in 2011, the 31-year -old single dad and devoted father will come back into the ring even more stronger and determined to win on Oct. 27.
Jacob’s training for the past year has been intense and his energy and relentless desire to succeed have been the main focus for the upcoming match.
The Ravi Report exclusively spoke to the champion athlete earlier this year at the Sports Emmy Awards in NYC about his life and incredible career.
RR: It is such an honor to meet you Daniel. If I may, I’d like to ask what your thoughts are on being such a strong, impressionable role model for so many children today.
DJ: I know everyone has a different opinion about being a role model and having the responsibilities for others, and being a great image for others. But it was instill in me as a young kid from my grandmother that said, once you step out of the house, you are not only representing yourself but also representing you family, your loved ones, friends,parents and everyone else that looks up to you. So being a professional athlete, it’s almost an obligation for me, because they are so many people who look up to you as an athlete, and give us the life and career that many of us have so, it’s almost a responsibility that we make sure we nurture and look out for the kids coming up and respect us and that we have a big influence in their lives. So we are kind of co-parenting these kids as well and that is a big responsibility. Being a dad myself and coming from a big family, it takes a community to raise a child so we are just playing out that part in the world.
RR: You talk about respectability and image in some of your interviews. Your professional image is so positive and so clean,and there are so many industry people and fans that respect you and your talent for that. How difficult is it for you to maintain your image despite the many temptations that come with money and fame? The sports industry is very alluring and some athletes often get caught up in vices and drama that can tarnish their reputation and career.
DJ: I’ve never really truly let the outside world penetrate and dictate my life. A lot of people put themselves in a position to allow things to happen, whether it’s good or bad, intentional or not, we still have that responsibility. Just because we are a public figure and things do happen, we have to be aware of that through out our careers. I always want to make sure my son is always proud of me, no matter what I do as he is my biggest influencer.
RR: What professional lessons are you learning not only as a famous athlete but also as a popular sports celebrity that often come with many responsibilities?
DJ: It’s very humbling, especially having a second chance at life. You know, being a cancer survivor, I came out fighting. So having this obligation and this responsibility, it’s like the icing on the cake. I feel special enough to tell my story to have people get inspired by it. We all have so many ups and downs but to have a second chance at life after something so severe as cancer, it’s very humbling. I feel like that I owe it to the world to share my story.
RR: Many people who go through severe tough times or a life threatening illness, often turn to divine inspiration for comfort or become more religious in the healing process.Would you consider yourself religious? Spiritual?
DJ: I am spiritual but I’m not religious. I’ve very in tune with myself and I do have a great relationship with the Creator. I think that it’s also important to get you through life by having that spiritual connection with whomever you consider God to be. We all have our ideas, but at the end of the day, it’s about that connection. My religion, which I would say if anything, is to be loved. Love is my religion.
RR: You are a role model for so many young kids today, who are your role models that have inspired you and motivated you in life and in your career?
DJ: Well, Sugar Ray Leonard and Muhammad Ali are strong ones and those are my favorites. What they both stood for outside the ring, always being true role models inside and out and were super talented and gifted, is the reason I feel I connect with them. I have so many different related things that I can say such as I walked the same path as Ali, I am inspired to be a great father like Ali was and these things are important to me just like they were to him.
RR: It was a privilege and honor to have met you Daniel. Thank you so much for your time and I wish you much luck and success on your journey.
DJ: Thank you so much.
Tickets are selling fast. For more information and to purchase tickets to the main event, please visit, www1.ticketmaster.com
The journey continues…
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