by Sam Rosenberg | Fri. July 30, 2010

Brownsville born Daniel Jacobs was nicknamed after the 80s cult classic movie “The Golden Child,” fitting, as his ultimate goal is to rise up the rankings and become the middleweight division's savior.

Most observers, for one reason or another, seem to arrive at the wrong conclusion when they first see Jacobs' record. At 20-0 with 17 knockouts one would think they are in for a power-punching display from the opening bell. This happens to be a case where records can lead to incorrect assumptions.

Make no mistake, Jacobs is first and foremost an excellent boxer. He is very large for his weight class, standing at 6-foot-1-inch tall, and he possesses a 73-inch reach. He loves all of the size advantages he typically holds over his opponents.

Early in his career Jacobs was scoring quick knockouts very easily. Against hapless opponents such as; Hector Lopez, Alexander Volvok, Jose Pena and Sergio Rios, a fan could easily get the wrong impression about his style.

It is after these early fights though, one begins to see a steadfast progression in Jacobs' skill-set.

He showed an excellent body attack against Tyrone Watson, and improved speed and better use of his long jab against Jose Varela. Jacobs' lateral movement and combination punching was on display against the tough Michael Walker. Left-handed power and range were thoroughly showcased against George Walton, while atience and timing were key against Ishe Smith.

In his last two fights there was variation in the speed and power of his punches, as well as a new patient demeanor against both Jose Berrio and Juan Astorga. 

After showing all of these great improvements over the last few years, one would think he has been to the big stage before. He has. 

Jacobs has been featured on an astounding number of big event undercards over the last few years. Floyd Mayweather - Ricky Hatton, Manny Pacquiao - Oscar De La Hoya, Shane Mosley - Ricardo Mayorga, Bernard Hopkins - Kelly Pavlik, Manny Pacquiao - Ricky Hatton,  and Juan Diaz - Paulie Malignaggi all come to mind.

So why isn't Jacobs a star yet, and why hasn't he cultivated even a medium-sized fan following?

More than likely, it’s the perception created by his 85% knockout rate. While he has shown some power in past fights, it is not his forte - and by no means something he relies upon. Jacobs is at his absolute best when he is jabbing and keeping at a distance, in order to make full use of his large frame. It's worked well for him for the last two years.

For whatever reason, the improvements to his skill-set seem to have gone largely unnoticed. Rest assured though, he progress is real and verifiable.

Tune in to witness "The Golden Child" showcase his ever-expanding skill-set Saturday, as he battles Dmitry Pirog for his first world championship.