Britain’s John Ryder Upset Daniel Jacobs Saturday Night

It may finally be the end of the road for Danny “Miracle Man” Jacobs. This after English Super Middleweight contender John Ryder scored a 12 round split decision win over the New York native Saturday night in the London Matchroom Boxing main event.

Ryder, who had unsuccessfully challenged countryman Callum Smith for the WBA 168 lb. title in 2019, was the fresher, sharper fighter in the second half of the bout. And, he got the nod on two cards at 115-113 with the dissenting judge having it 115-113 for the veteran Jacobs,

SCORECARDS:@_John_Ryder_ gets a split decision 115-113 Jacobs, 115-113 Ryder, 115-113 Ryder to move closer to another World Title shot! 🙌#JacobsRyder pic.twitter.com/c5Se5svFoy

— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) February 12, 2022

Jacobs built an early lead with the reach/jab and occasional effective right hands, but Ryder continued to work in close quarters to Jacob’s body in the middle rounds. And, that would pay off, as the WBA 168 lb. eliminator bout wore on into the latter rounds.

Ryder’s best round of the fight was the seventh, when he backed Jacobs to the ropes or a corner two different time with hard combinations which forced Jacobs to hold and brought a rise out the partisan crowd at the Alexandra Palace.

Ryder, who improved to 31-5 with the win, has now put himself back in the conversation for a potential title shot down the road.

“I think I hurt him in round eight. I kinda had round 9 off. Just had a look at him and I thought he was going to come out and be able to step on him in round 10…Listen. We got the win. That’s the most important thing,” Ryder told Matchroom/DAZN in the ring post fight.

Meanwhile, the 35 year old Jacobs showed his age late in the bout and the former, brief IBF World Middleweight couldn’t rally in the most important final two rounds.

Jacobs had previously gone toe to toe in a 12 round loss to current Undisputed Super Middleweight champ Canelo Alvarez in May of 2019. He also was beaten Gennady Golovkin by decision in March of 2017, as well. However, both of those efforts looked like they were a long, long, time ago Saturday night.

Now, we wait to see if Jacobs wants to continue and what Ryder’s next matchup later in 2022 might be.