Sergio Mora feels he has a score to settle with WBA “regular” middleweight titlist Daniel Jacobs, who registered a thrilling second-round TKO last year in wild firefight that ultimately ended when Mora succumbed to an ankle injury. While some view the rematch as unnecessary, everything is at stake for the 35-year-old Mora.
The first fight between Daniel Jacobs and Sergio Mora was as brief as it was compelling, with the opening stanza holding up for many boxing pundits as 2015’s Round of the Year. In that first frame, Jacobs (31-1, 28 KOs) dropped Mora (28-4-2, 9 KOs) heavily, only to get crumpled to the canvas with a thudding counter left hook after he recklessly rushed in to stop the former “Contender” and world champion.
It was all over less than three minutes later when Mora, after getting dropped for the second time, fractured his ankle after falling awkwardly. Then, a familiar narrative developed: Jacobs claimed — correctly to many — that a rematch would be a waste of time and that he was eyeing more marquee bouts; Mora cried foul, pointing to his knockdown of Jacobs and the freak injury as evidence that he deserved another shot.
Jacobs and his team targeted the likes of Billy Joe Saunders and Andy Lee, but nothing materialized. Despite the momentum garnered from a sensational first-round knockout of rival Peter Quillin, Jacobs could not secure the fight he wanted and, spurred by Mora’s trash talking and a lack options, decided to revisit familiar territory.
But make no mistake, Daniel Jacobs views a rematch with Sergio Mora as a clear regression, a fact he made clear during a tense conference call that become openly contentious by its conclusion.
“I mean, I think it’s just — to me, this is kind of like a just-stay-busy fight because we weren’t able to get the fight that we actually wanted, for whatever reason,” Jacobs said. “But, to me, I don’t think this does anything for my career. Like I said before, we’ve always wanted to move up to bigger and better opposition each time out. This is kind of a step back.”
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Sergio Mora has clearly gotten under Daniel Jacobs’ skin in the build-up to this rematch, and he exudes the intriguing combination of confidence and defensiveness that only a still-skilled but aging former champion can possess. Mora, who is both charismatic and extremely intelligent, is aware that he’s entered the final act of his career and that this could very well be his last major opportunity.
“I’m not Bernard Hopkins,” Mora said. “There’s only special people that could fight in their mid-30s and so on and still be fighting the best. So, even though, if my body hasn’t taken a beating, I’ve been in the game a long time. And the wear and tear from sparring and from running and from the dieting and from all the other stuff, all that takes effect.
“But, even though I am well preserved, I’m still the age that I am. And the hunger’s still there. So, number one, if the hunger’s still there, everything else falls into place. So, we’re going to find out in two weeks exactly if the hunger and my body is at the same level.”
NEW YORK, NY – AUGUST 01: Danny Jacobs (L) exchanges punches with Sergio Mora during their middleweight bout at Barclays Center on August 1, 2015 in Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
Few fighters are as blunt in their self-assessment as Sergio Mora. Although he’s developed a disdain for Daniel Jacobs since their first fight — grounded, based on what Mora said during the conference call, in the disrespect Jacobs shows him — Mora is keenly aware of the magnitude of the task at hand.
That said, Mora was eager to highlight his experiences facing the likes of Shane Mosley and Vernon Forrest to make the point that Jacobs still hasn’t experienced the gruelling trial of going 12 hard rounds with an “all-around” champion. Mora certainly has done that, but cynics will wonder whether he can withstand Jacobs’ awesome power long enough to take him into the proverbial deep waters.
For Sergio Mora, though, this fight boils down to opportunity and the rare chance to settle a score in a sport that takes far more than it gives.
“I’m going to have that TKO on my record for the rest of my career and the rest of my life,” Mora said. “And it’s sad because I don’t want it to be on a technicality. So, does it irk me? Absolutely. But, am I past it? Yes. I just want an opportunity to clear whatever happened.”
LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 18: Sergio Mora punches Shane Mosley during the eighth round in a Middleweight bout at Staples Center on September 18, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. The fight ended in a draw. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
There seems to be a modicum of inner peace that some veteran fighters attain — a state that is less serene than it is pragmatic. Sergio Mora has heard and digested the analysis of his shortcomings as a fighter, and he’s coped with the harsh reality of his body breaking down to reveal the growing limitations of his athleticism.
And yet, Sergio Mora is still here — still fighting. When he appeared on “The Contender,” it was impossible to fathom the winding journey he would embark on from there — one that would lead him to a world title and a unanimously recognized transition from reality TV lab subject to elite prizefighter. Clearly, there’s some comfort and confidence to be found in that, but leave it to Mora to express it in the blunt way few fighters can.
“Danny, the young champion looking down on me, subordinating me, making me feel like I’m lucky to get this opportunity, I’ve dealt with that my entire career, man,” Mora said. “It’s nothing new. I know I’m here over and over, time after time for a reason because I’m that fucking good.”
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