Former middleweight champion Daniel Jacobs has officially announced his retirement from boxing. The decision comes after Jacobs, aged 37, suffered a defeat to Shane Mosley Jr., marking his second consecutive loss. This fight was only his second in nearly 4½ years, with his previous bout resulting in a split decision defeat to John Ryder in February 2022.
Jacobs, a native of New York born in Brooklyn, faced notable defeats against Canelo Alvarez and Gennadiy Golovkin in his most high-profile fights. Despite these losses, Jacobs reflected on his remarkable journey, stating, 'I'm able to say I'm the first cancer survivor to be a boxing world champion, the biggest accomplishment I've ever achieved.'
Diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, in May 2011, Jacobs underwent surgery to remove a tumor wrapped around his spine and rebuild his spinal column. Following extensive radiation treatments, he made a triumphant return to the ring in October 2012.
His career highlights include winning the WBA's secondary title at 160 pounds and successfully defending it four times, including a notable first-round knockout of Peter Quillin. Jacobs further solidified his legacy by capturing the IBF middleweight title with a split decision victory over Sergiy Derevyanchenko in October 2018.
Reflecting on Jacobs' remarkable journey, his manager emphasized the significance of his achievements, stating, 'He's the first boxer ever to win the world title after beating cancer and the only boxer ever to win a world title after being paralyzed from the waist down for several months.' Jacobs' story stands as one of the greatest comeback narratives in the history of boxing.
