Jacobs makes quick work of Quillin

Much-Anticipated Brooklyn Brawl Ends in 1st-Round TKO at Barclays

December 8, 2015 By John Torenli, Sports Editor Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Daniel Jacobs battered fellow Brooklyn boxer Peter Quillin against the ropes during an opening-round barrage that launched the Brownsville native into the stratosphere of the world’s top middleweights Saturday night at Barclays Center. AP photo

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There is little room for friendship within the confines of the squared circle.

Brownsville native Daniel “The Miracle Man” Jacobs drove that point home with great emphasis Saturday night before a crowd of 8,443 at Downtown’s Barclays Center, scoring an opening-round technical knockout of Brooklyn-based opponent and longtime friend Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin to retain his WBA Middleweight world championship.

The two local fighters, who have become mainstays at the state-of-the-art arena on the corners of Atlantic and Flatbush avenues the past three years, were on a collision course to meet in the ring despite a boxing kinship that dates back to their teenage years on the amateur circuit.

When the opening bell rang for the main event Saturday night, that friendship was tossed aside for 85 seconds as Jacobs scored early with a thunderous straight right hand that struck Quillin’s temple, backing the previously undefeated 32-year-old into a defenseless position.

Jacobs, 28, pounced on his opponent and battered him mercilessly against the ropes until Quillin, clearly staggered and dazed, fell forward into the embrace of referee Harvey Dock, who deemed Quillin incapable of continuing at 1:25 of the first round.

“I hope he’s okay,” Jacobs said of Quillin after improving to 31-1 with his 28th career knockout. “I was patient and when I came with an uppercut I knew I hurt him and that’s when I went for the kill.

“I told him I love him,” Jacobs added of his post-fight embrace with Quillin. “Me and Peter go back to the Golden Glove days. I respect him to death, but I knew this fight would be my night. There are no lucky shots in boxing. Obviously I caught him with a shot. Once I knew I had him hurt I kept going.”

The impressive victory sets Jacobs up as the “next big thing” in the middleweight ranks as he sets his sights on big-money fights against the likes of Gennady Golovkin or Canelo Alvarez next year.

Quillin (32-1-1, 23 KOs), who disagreed with the early stoppage, along with thousands of fans eager to see more of the “Battle of Brooklyn,” quickly intimated that he would like another shot at his old friend.

“I have a lot of options, maybe a rematch is the best option,” said Quillin. “I can’t think of a better person to lose to than Danny Jacobs.”

“I definitely would give him a rematch,” Jacobs added. “I’m willing to fight him next if that’s what the fans want.”

On the undercard, Jesus Cuellar (28-1, 21 KOs) defended his WBA Featherweight title by earning a unanimous decision victory over Jonathan Oquendo (26-5, 16 KOs).

Of more local interest, Long Island native Chris Algieri (21-2) also won via unanimous victory over Erick Bone, unbeaten Staten Island light heavyweight Marcus Browne (17-0, 13 KOs) posted a fourth-round TKO triumph over Francisco Sierra and Brooklyn’s boxing rabbi Yuri Foreman (33-2, 9 KOs) completed a successful return to the ring following a two-year hiatus via a unanimous decision over Lenwood Dozier.

“I saw I cut him early, but I had to stay persistent and consistent,” said Browne, who fought and won at Barclays Center for a record 10th time after ringside physician, Dr. Barry Jordan, stopped the bout due to severe swelling around Sierra’s left eye. “I had to work the jab and keep working it. I felt like I seized this opportunity to put my name out there.

“It is an honor to fight at Barclays Center for the 10th time. It was a nice stoppage — not necessarily the kind of stoppage that you want, but a stoppage is a stoppage.”

On the women’s side, Brooklyn super featherweight Heather Hardy improved to 15-0 by surviving an action-packed eight-rounder with Noemi Bosques, getting the nod on all three judges’ scorecards.

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In local college sports news, St. Joseph’s College interim director of athletics Alex Winnicker introduced Danielle Fazzolare as the Brooklyn school’s new women’s softball coach.

“Danielle is a great addition to the St. Joseph’s team,” said Winnicker. “Her enthusiasm and knowledge of the game is palpable, and I believe the women will form an immediate rapport with her. Her hiring is another step in our continued efforts to raise the competitive bar of every sport at the college.”

“I am very thankful for the opportunity to impart my passion for the game onto my athletes and develop players into champions,” added Fazzolare, who played collegiately at Ithaca College and has since been coaching the Long Island Bandits. “I look forward to the challenge of making the Lady Bears a contender in the Skyline Conference.”