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Spike O’Sullivan “in negotiations” for big money Danny Jacobs fight


Spike O’Sullivan looks set to reap the rewards of his big win in Canada last month and is currently in talks for a fight with a massive name

The Cork middleweight stunned touted U.S. fighter Antoine Douglas, scoring a seventh round stoppage in Montreal to claim the WBO Inter-Continental title and move into genuine world title territory.

Since then O’Sullivan [29(17)-2(1)] has, among others, been mentioned as a potential opponent for WBO champion Billy Joe Saunders, former WBO light middleweight champion Demetrius Andrade, and recent world title challenger Danny Jacobs.

Only one of these though stands out for O’Sullivan’s coach and manager Paschal Collins.

The Dublin trainer is keen for his charge to maximise his earning potential, and is currently in negotiations with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom USA for a big-money fight with Jacobs [33(29)-2(1)]

Collins revealed to Irish-Boxing.com that “we’re negotiating with Daniel Jacobs at the moment. That fight’s under negotiation and, if the money’s right, that’s the fight we’ll take.”

“We were made an offer, we’re negotiating, and fingers crossed that fight happens. Eddie Hearn wants it, we want it, Golden Boy want it, Murphys want it – but the money has to be sufficient.”

“HBO want him back, and HBO are the guys with the money – and if HBO want him back, they have to pay the money.”

Jacobs, following his admirable and narrow points defeat to middleweight king Gennady Golovkin, became the first fighter to link up with Hearn’s new Matchroom USA venture.

‘The Miracle Man’ had his first fight with his new team back in November, dominating Luis Arias.

The physically-imposing Jacobs would present a huge challenge for O’Sullivan, but Collins views it as the most logical choice considering the other options.

Collins outlined how “I remember Boo-Boo Andrade training in the Petronelli’s when he was 16. He is a class fighter, a southpaw, we’ll stay well clear of him. They’re fights we may get change for, and they’re very hard fights to win. They need Spike more than Spike needs them. There’s certain fights you just avoid, on a business level.”

“To fight Billy Joe Saunders for a world title, you wouldn’t get near the money you’d get to fight Danny Jacobs. You have to ask yourself, do you want to fight for a world title or do you want to make serious money?”

“You beat Daniel Jacobs and all of a sudden you’re into million dollar fights, you’re fighting the likes of the winner of Golovkin-Canelo.”

“The rewards are greater for the Daniel Jacobs fight and we believe we can win that fight, Spike believes he can win that fight, and if we can get the money we believe we can get – then it’s a no-brainer”

“He’s in a great position now for big fights and big pay-days. The big money fights are there, he’s made that breakthrough on HBO, he just has to turn up, do his best in every fight, and he will reap the rewards, he will.”

dpg

Joe O'Neill

Reporting on Irish boxing the past five years. Work has appeared on irish-boxing.com, Boxing News, the42.ie, and local and national media. Provide live ringside updates, occasional interviews, and special features on the future of Irish boxing. email: joneill6@tcd.ie

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