“When it was over, he called it a “contest.” Danny Jacobs lost a unanimous decision to Saul “Canelo” Alvarez at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday night, lost his middleweight title, lost his chance at becoming the unified middleweight champion of the world in the highest profile bout of his career. And when that opportunity had slipped, parried, and rolled its way beyond his reach, Jacobs marked its departure by complimenting the quality of the contest. There are several reasons why Jacobs fell short Saturday, not least among them this: when victory’s windfall demanded a fight, Jacobs would only contest for it.”

Read “Nothing Special Today”: Saul Alvarez Outpoints Danny Jacobs on Hannibal Boxing.

“If Alvarez, twenty-eight, beats Jacobs now little remains for him at middleweight. There’s a fight with Demetrius Andrade to crown an undisputed middleweight champion, but that fight is unlikely because Andrade, on top of possessing a dreadful style, has a title, which probably makes him Jacobs’s comeback target. And then there is the third go with Golovkin, which would happen even if both Alvarez and Golovkin (now also a DAZN fighter) were chilled in their next fights. With Golovkin finally beaten decisively (the only outcome anyone should expect the next time), Alvarez would be left waiting for the aspirants at junior-middleweight and even welterweight to pursue the greatest prize available to them. Alvarez could take them on as he chose: knocking off the ones with greater popularity than potential before some lesser opponent were to beat him to it, while also rushing to those fighters who might be legitimate threats in a few years.”

Read Future Obstacles: Saul Alvarez After Danny Jacobs on Hannibal Boxing.

“A rematch seemed inevitable, and Estrada had reason to pursue one. He is Mexico’s finest prizefighter regardless of how little he resembles the warring stereotype. It was easy to envision Estrada taming Sor Rungvisai if provided the opportunity to apply for twelve rounds what it took him as long to learn. Sor Rungvisai, of course, would do what he had always done: combine strength, toughness, power, and arrogance into a brutal gestalt, the efficacy of that strategy leaving a fair trail of bodies in his wake, warmest among them, Roman Gonzalez. But there was plenty Estrada might do to Sor Rungvisai, and good reason to believe that he, the fighter best equipped to apply the lessons of the first fight, would win the second. None of that was likely to reduce the outlay for Estrada’s success (wins against Sor Rungvisai do not come cheap) but that only added to the rematch’s appeal.”

Read No Less Violent: Juan Francisco Estrada Outlasts Srisaket Sor Rungvisai on Hannibal Boxing.