Fight News

One after another, the electric matchups in the loaded welterweight division keep coming. And they keep coming to Barclays Center.

The latest is Andre Berto vs. Shawn Porter on Saturday, April 22. Two former champions, now one night away from another shot at reclaiming a belt.

Both fighters are trying to prove they deserve to be part of the championship conversations following setbacks. Porter’s was by the narrowest of margins.

Last June at Barclays Center he lost a narrow decision to Keith Thurman, 115-113 on all three scorecards in a bout that ESPN.com ranked as one of its top five fights of 2016. Thurman retained his WBC title and added the WBA belt with his win over Danny Garcia at Barclays Center on March 4.

That very same night, as the Berto vs. Porter matchup was being announced, the fighters learned their winner would be the mandatory challenger to Thurman for the WBC title that Berto once held, and that Porter was so close to claiming last June.

“I couldn’t have been more surprised,” said Porter of learning that this would be a title eliminator bout. “I don’t think there was anything in my life that I’ve been more pleased with a surprise other than that.

“My heart, it just glowed with happiness. I’m looking forward to this fight. I’ve been looking forward to this moment for a long time.”

PURCHASE TICKETS

The 33-year-old Berto is four years older than Porter. He’s followed a longer road back to this opportunity, and a longer road period. He’s seen the boxing world from all sides and watched the narrative around him change.

Berto had his turn as the hot rising star, winning his first 27 pro fights and capturing the WBC title in 2008.

The ride came to an end with a loss to Victor Ortiz almost exactly six years ago in April 2011. That was the first of three losses in four fights for Berto, who battled shoulder problems and eventually had surgery.

He returned with wins against Steve Chambers and Josesito Lopez before dropping a decision to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in the undefeated, unified champ’s last fight.

In April 2016 Berto got his long-awaited rematch against Victor Ortiz and made a thunderous statement with a fourth-round knockout.

“From my first loss I’ve been written off,” said Berto. “That’s just the way the fight game is. From my first loss on it’s been speculation. I’ve been through my hard times. Everything I’ve been through in this fight game has been on that TV screen.

“I love it because I love that rollercoaster ride. I’ve never seen my career as being perfect. I always wanted to feel everything this game has to offer.”

Porter expected to be back in this position, but maybe not this quickly. Berto has battled back from an unexpected detour to get back in the mix for a title shot.

“This should be a very good fight,” said Porter. “That’s why this fight is very anticipated because you know what I can do and you know what Andre can do.”

The undercards promise as much action as the Berto vs. Porter main event. Unbeaten world super welterweight champion Jermell Charlo makes his first title defense against Charles Hatley and four-division champion Amanda Serrano will be looking to make history as the first woman and first Puerto Rican fighter to win a fifth world title in five different weight classes.

Jacobs To Be Honored In Ceremony During Berto vs. Porter Event at Barclays Center

BROOKLYN (April 10, 2017) – Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams will declare Saturday, April 22, 2017 to be ‘Daniel Jacobs Day’ in Brooklyn, in a ceremony at that evening’s Andre Berto vs. Shawn Porter welterweight showdown at Barclays Center.

Jacobs’ Get In The Ring Foundation, through which he advocates for children struggling with cancer, childhood obesity, and bullying, will donate 100 tickets to the event to local families, children, teens in the Brooklyn community.

Jacobs, a Brownsville, Brooklyn-native, has fought at Barclays Center five times, and most recently, challenged Gennady “GGG” Golovkin in a closely contested loss. Jacobs is the face of BROOKLYN BOXING™, the flourishing boxing platform for Barclays Center, through which he trains and competes in branded gloves, trunks, shoes and robes.

In March, BROOKLYN BOXING unveiled a special merchandise collection in Jacobs’ honor, which features sweatshirts, sweatpants, t-shirts, and hats adorned with black and gold BROOKLYN BOXING branding alongside the fighter’s “Miracle Man” moniker, and is sold at BrooklynBoxingShop.com.

In 2011, Jacobs was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma, a life-threatening form of bone cancer. After an arduous battle, radiation treatments and surgery, Jacobs returned to the ring at Barclays Center where he went on to win the WBA world middleweight title in August 2014.

ABOUT BROOKLYN SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment (BSE) develops and operates state-of-the-art venues and manages premier sports franchises, delivering dynamic content and experiences for audiences. BSE oversees programming, marketing, sales, and operations for Barclays Center and NYCB LIVE, home of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum Presented By New York Community Bank, and manages and controls the NBA's Brooklyn Nets and its Development League team, the Long Island Nets, as well as the business operations of the NHL's New York Islanders.

Barclays Center, which opened on September 28, 2012, offers 17,732 seats for basketball, 15,795 for hockey, and up to 19,000 seats for concerts, and has 101 luxury suites, four bars/lounges, four clubs, and 40/40 CLUB & Restaurant by Tanduay.

NYCB LIVE, home of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, is scheduled to reopen April 5, 2017 after extensive renovation. The Coliseum offers 14,500 seats for basketball, MMA and boxing, 13,900 for hockey, up to 16,000 for concerts, and 4,500 seats for its theater configuration. With a focus on emerging businesses, BSE identifies and creates alliances, strategic partnerships and other business opportunities to ensure the success of its assets.

For additional information, please visit brooklynse.com.

Now the countdown can really begin.

Fight week began for Daniel Jacobs on Monday with a trip to ring the bell opening the New York Stock Exchange, followed by a midday press conference with his opponent for Saturday night’s middleweight championship bout, Gennady Golovkin.

“I’m glad to be back in New York City,” said the Brooklyn native. “I remember coming home Saturday and driving around listening to Notorious B.I.G. and listening to all that Brooklyn love and feeling the spirit. I’m back. Back in New York City where it all started.”

Jacobs spent training camp in California along with trainer Andre Rozier at trainer Virgil Hunter’s gym. He had a new addition to his camp in fellow fighter Chris Algieri, the former junior welterweight champ. Algieri brought nutritional guidance and more to Jacobs’ preparation.

“It was a joy to have him in camp, have great conversations with him, have good nutrition,” said Jacobs. “He understands what it means to be at this level.”

On Sunday night, Jacobs stopped by Barclays Center to greet fans and unveil the new “Miracle Man” line of apparel from BROOKLYN BOXING. It was six years ago that he was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma and underwent surgery to remove a tumor wrapped around his spine, followed by two dozen radiation treatments.

Doctors told him he wouldn’t box again. Jacobs defied the odds, but the road was long.

“I would have never thought five years ago going through a whole bunch of craziness outside the ring that I would be fighting for middleweight superamacy,” said Jacobs. 

He made his return to the ring at Barclays Center on Oct. 20, 2012 for the arena's first-ever fight night. Two years later he defeated Jarrod Fletcher in that same ring for the WBA world middleweight title.

Since his return he’s won 10 straight fights — all by by stoppage, no decisions — to run his career record to 32-1 with 29 knockouts.

“We’re fighting for history,” said Golovkin earlier this year. “This guy, he’s more dangerous and much, much better than anyone I’ve faced. He’s my best opponent.”

Golovkin is the holder of four championship belts, with a 36-0 record and 33 knockouts. Back in September, one day after Jacobs beat Sergio Mora in his most recent bout, Golovkin registered a TKO win against IBF welterweight champ Kell Brook.

“You’ve got to take that leap of faith in yourself, and then you’ll see what you’re made of,” said Jacobs during a visit to the Brooklyn Nets’ HSS Training Center back in December. “It’s about rising to the occasion. And all the greats always rise to the occasion.”

That opportunity is almost here. Just a few more days. 

“I’m so focused,” said Jacobs. “’I’m so ready. I want it.”

From a Brownsville Police Athletic League gym to the bright lights of Barclays Center, Daniel Jacobs has crafted a classic boxing tale and added his name to the long list of Brooklyn boxing legends.

The world middleweight champion has marked some of his most significant professional milestones right in his home borough, and Brooklyn’s reputation as a cradle of champions is a point of pride. As is his standing as the face of BROOKLYN BOXING, the flourishing boxing platform for Barclays Center. Jacobs will train and compete in branded gear and make public appearances on behalf of BROOKLYN BOXING.

“When you think of boxing it’s hard not to think of Brooklyn and the history and the culture which produced so many champions,” said Jacobs. “Just to be a part of that legacy, it feels really good to associate my name with BROOKLYN BOXING.”

To reach these heights, Jacobs has conquered the kind of adversity few have overcome. In his first shot at a world title in July 2010, Jacobs suffered his only professional loss the same week his grandmother died of cancer. Less than a year later, Jacobs was himself diagnosed with Osteosarcoma, a life-threatening form of bone cancer.

Just 17 months later, he was back in the ring. In 2014, he became a world champion at Barclays Center.

“Daniel is a true inspiration to Brooklyn, the boxing community and beyond,” said Brett Yormark, CEO of Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment. “His story captures what BROOKLYN BOXING is all about — courage, toughness and perseverance. We are proud to have Daniel represent the BROOKLYN BOXING brand globally. Wherever he goes, BROOKLYN BOXING will go.”

From his first days in that PAL gym, Jacobs fell in love with the sport. He was taken in by the intensity of the Golden Gloves on his first visit to watch the tournament, still too young to enter. Eventually, Jacobs went on to become a four-time New York Golden Gloves champion.

His fast-rising pro career had Jacobs fighting for a world title at just 23 years old. But just days after his grandmother Cordelia Jacobs died of cancer, Jacobs was stopped in the fifth round.

“That was a pretty dark time in my life,” said Jacobs. “I suffered my first loss. It was the biggest stage that I was ever on in my life. There was so much pressure.”

Greater challenges were coming.

In the spring of 2011, Jacobs began to suffer from weakness in his left leg. A tumor had wrapped itself around his spine.

“The symptoms were evident,” said Jacobs. “It was me not being able to walk.”

He underwent surgery and two dozen radiation treatments. Doctors told him he would never box again, maybe not realizing a return to the ring was exactly what was driving Jacobs through his ordeal.

“As soon as I was able to walk I went to the boxing gym,” said Jacobs. “They told me that I was crazy.

“They advised me that I would never be able to do this again. That was my motivation to prove everybody wrong.”

Just 17 months after his diagnosis, Jacobs returned to the ring to defeat Josh Luteran by TKO. It was Oct. 20, 2012, the premiere boxing card at Barclays Center, merging the start of new eras for Jacobs and boxing in Brooklyn.

With his return from cancer and the opportunity to fight on a major stage in his hometown, Jacobs called it one of the most intense emotional nights of his life.

“Through that whole ordeal,” said Jacobs, “it’s hard not to be a better person and come 100 percent with everything you do and everything you are.”

On Aug. 8, 2014, Jacobs knocked out Jarrod Fletcher in the fifth round to claim the WBA world championship title at Barclays Center. He’s made four title defenses, two of them at Barclays Center, including a ferocious first-round TKO of his friend and fellow Brooklynite Peter Quillin back in December.

That was Jacobs’ fifth fight at Barclays Center, and he’s looking forward to fighting in front of his home fans again.

A record-setting crowd filled Barclays Center on Saturday night for a historic fight as two undefeated welterweight champions met in the ring.

In just the 10^th unification bout in the division’s history, Keith “One Time” Thurman brought his WBA belt and Danny “Swift” Garcia put the WBC title on the line. After pressing the action early and controlling it late, Thurman emerged triumphant by a split decision, winning 116-112 and 115-113 on two cards, while one judge went for Garcia 115-113 in the tightly contested battle.

“I thought it was a clear victory, but Danny came to fight,” said Thurman, who improved to 28-0. “I knew when it was split and I had that wide spread, I knew it had to go to me.”

“I came up short tonight,” said Garcia, who was making his sixth appearance in the Barclays Center ring. “I thought I was the aggressor. I thought I pushed the pace. But it didn’t go my way.”

 Decisive wins by rising contenders Erickson Lubin and Sergey Lipinets warmed up the crowd for the featured bout. From the start, Thurman and Garcia didn’t disappoint.

 The first few rounds were filled with powerful exchanges. Over the course of the fight, Thurman threw 136 more punches than Garcia – 570 to 434 – and that aggressiveness was evident early on.

 Confident in his advantage, Thurman turned tactical, opting for defense and jabs to keep Garcia at bay. Pushing to close the gap, Garcia attacked but couldn’t make enough of an impact.

 “I was not giving the fight away,” said Thurman. “I felt like we had a nice lead, we could cool down. I felt like we were controlling the three-minute intervals every round. My defense was effective – he wasn’t landing.”

 The 21^st boxing event hosted by Barclays Center was the arena’s biggest, but it’s also just part of huge 2017 planned by BROOKLYN BOXING. It began with another unification bout in January as super middleweights Badou Jack and James DeGale battled to a draw. A multi-fight schedule with Premier Boxing Champions at both Barclays Center and Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum Presented By New York Community Bank is slated for the coming months.

 “We will be host to multiple championship events between both venues this year,” said Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment CEO Brett Yormark, “and are also looking forward to creating more exposure for our BrooklynBoxingShop.com  business through the nation’s best boxing series.”

Before boxing returns to Barclays Center, the face of BROOKLYN BOXING, Daniel Jacobs, will take on undefeated Gennady Golovkin, holder of four title belts, on March 18.

The WBA world middleweight title-holder, Jacobs will bring a 32-1 record with 29 knockouts into the ring against 36-0 Golovkin.

DANIEL JACOBS HAS NETS IN HIS CORNER

 “If you believe in yourself, no matter how you feel about the situation, no matter how anybody else feels about the situation, you’ve got to take that leap of faith in yourself, and then you’ll see what you’re made of,” said Jacobs. “It’s about rising to the occasion. And all the greats always rise to the occasion. Even under that pressure. Even with feeling nervous. In so many different circumstances, you have to rise to the occasion. And, for me, I think that’s what I’ve been able to do very well.”

Next up at Barclays Center will be another welterweight battle between Shawn Porter and Andre Berto on April 22. Both fighters are former champions, with Porter having held the IBF belt and Berto the WBC title. 

“They don’t have belts,” said PBC’s Lou DiBella, “but they’re champions.”

This will be Porter’s return to the ring after last year’s narrow unanimous decision loss to Thurman at Barclays Center. The 29-year-old has a 26-2-1 record, with the other loss to IBF welterweight champ Kell Brook.

“He’s got great speed, great counterpunching ability,” said Thurman of Berto. “I think that was something else that kind of got me in the fight with Keith Thurman. Good offense, but I left my head there a few times, a few times more than I needed to, which gave him a few rounds throughout the fight that ended up getting me the loss in the fight.”

Since undergoing shoulder surgery in 2013, Berto has won two of his last three fights, the only loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. The 33-year-old with the 31-4 career record responded to the Mayweather loss with a vicious seventh-round knockout of Victor Ortiz last April. Ortiz had handed Berto his first career loss in taking the WBC belt from him in 2011.

 A different fighter than he was in 2011, Berto is looking forward to continuing his resurgence and reclaiming the title he once held.

 “Make sure every move and every punch and every ounce of energy I generate is for a purpose,” said Berto. “I just had ridiculous athletic ability. I was strong, fast, didn’t know what I was doing with it though. They just let me out the cage and I would just go. Now it’s a lot more structure to what we’re doing. It’s making it a lot more effective.”

 The Berto-Porter winner will get a mandatory shot at the WBC title, now held by Thurman after his victory over Garcia. Should Porter emerge victorious, it would set up a rematch with Thurman. Back in June 2016, the two waged one of the top fights of the year in a narrow decision that went to Thurman at Barclays Center.

 “Only thing on my mind right now is the WBC title,” said Porter. “That is the only thing on my mind. Turned pro a long time ago and not long after I made it a goal of mine before I retired to win that WBC title. I feel like that’s about to happen. Obviously I got something to work on April 22nd, not looking past through you at all Andre Berto. Respect you as a man, respect you as a fighter, you know that. We are friends. But like you all saw me and Keith Thurman, good friends too, night of the fight it’s all about the business. Now it’s all about getting that WBC title.”

 After Thurman-Porter and Thurman-Garcia, it’s the latest powerhouse welterweight matchup to come to Barclays Center. Until Thurman’s win over Garcia, the division’s four belts belonged to four different men. And there’s a wealth of contenders in the loaded division, such as rising star Errol Spence Jr.

 “Let’s map something out so maybe at the end of ‘17 or early ‘18 we could be talking about something pretty close to an undisputed champion,” said Stephen Espinoza, executive vice president at SHOWTIME. “It’s guys like this who are cooperating, and Kell Brook and Danny and Keith. It takes them cooperating, because there’s certainly no contract in place. Let’s clarify things. We have one of the deepest divisions in the sport. Let’s get to work here and find out who’s the best.”

 “This thing’s been building for about four and a half years,” said Yormark. “We made a major commitment to boxing. Fortunate enough to work with Stephen and Lou and tonight I think is indicative of what this thing can become on a regular basis. April 22nd should be another special night, and there’s more to come.”