Daniel Jacobs knew a change needed to happen after losing his IBF middleweight title to Canelo Alvarez back in May. He was cutting an extreme amount of weight to make the 160-pound limit, and it was starting to affect his performance inside the ring.
On Friday, Dec. 20, the two-time middleweight champion begins the next phase of his career with the trek up to a higher weight as he squares off against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. from the Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, live on DAZN.
“I've been able to be genuinely happy, to focus only on training and focus only on my skillset and not on the idea of cutting 10 to 15 pounds before the weigh in," Jacobs said in a news release. "So, it's a big deal for me, and I'm happy and I'm looking forward to showing everyone in the world that it wasn't an excuse last time around.
“It was the actual fact of me cutting the weight, and that would make a difference in the previous fights that I've been having. So now you're going to see, in my opinion, a better version of myself, and I look forward to that."
The fight against Chavez originally had the super middleweight 168-pound limit, but it was changed on Thursday to a catchweight of 173 pounds. Jacobs came in at 167.7 pounds, while Chavez weighed 172.7.
This is only the second time Chavez (51-3-1, 33 KOs) will compete since he lost to Alvarez in May 2017. The son of the legendary Julio Cesar Chavez returned in August to knock out Evert Bravo. But the 33-year-old almost didn't make the Jacobs fight. He'd been given an indefinite suspension from the Nevada State Athletic Commission for failing to submit to a random drug test in October as the bout was scheduled to occur at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Chavez went on to sue the NSAC. On Tuesday, a Nevada State Court judge granted Chavez a temporary restraining order, so he's cleared to face Jacobs in Arizona.
"This is the right fight to get me back to the top,” Chavez Jr. said in a news release. "It’s a big risk because of the activity he’s had, but I am not a stepping stone for him, I am ready and I need to win the fight, and I know I have the skills and the heart to win."
Will moving up in weight be the cure to Jacobs' problems? Is Chavez finally in the right frame of mind to live up to his potential?
Here’s a complete guide to the Jacobs vs. Chavez Jr. fight, with betting odds, undercard information and more.
When is Daniel Jacobs vs. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.?
- Date: Friday, Dec. 20, 2019
- Time: 7 p.m. ET
- Main event: 11 p.m. ET (approximate)
- Live stream: DAZN
This will mark Jacobs' first fight since losing his IBF middleweight title to Canelo Alvarez. Chavez returns after knocking out Evert Bravo in August. The undercard begins at 7 p.m. ET. The main card begins at 9 p.m. ET, with Maurice Hooker facing Uriel Perez. Jacobs and Chavez are expected to take their ring walks about 11 p.m., although the exact time depends on the earlier fights.
Jacobs vs. Chavez Jr. fight week schedule and highlights
Tuesday: Press conference
Thursday: Weigh-in, 3 p.m. ET
Friday: Fight night
Jacobs vs. Chavez live stream: How to watch
The Jacobs vs. Chavez fight isn't available via traditional pay-per-view or a linear TV channel. Fans in North America can instead sign up to watch the fight online with DAZN, the global sports live-streaming service.
DAZN can be streamed on a variety of platforms, including Roku, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, iOS, Android, Xbox One, Playstation 4 and Playstation 3, as well as Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer and Safari browsers via DAZN.com.
Comcast customers can sign up for DAZN on Xfinity Flex and Xfinity X1.
The undercard for the Jacobs vs. Chavez card, which is from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., can be watched for free on DAZN's social media counts, including YouTube:
How much does the Jacobs vs. Chavez fight cost?
- 1 month DAZN subscription: $19.99
- 1 year DAZN subscription: $99.99
New subscribers to DAZN can sign up for a monthly subscription or annual pass to watch the fight. The annual pass — which includes access to all of DAZN’s live events, as well as highlights, behind-the-scenes features and original shows — is $99.99 in the U.S. That averages out to a little over $8 a month. Those who prefer a monthly plan can sign up for a monthly option at $19.99. (In Canada, the monthly plan is $20 CAD, and the annual plan is $150 CAD.)
For current subscribers, the fight is already included as part of your plan.
Where is the Jacobs vs. Chavez fight?
The Jacobs vs. Chavez will take place at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix.
This marks the first time Jacobs and Chavez will be competing in Phoenix.
Jacobs vs. Chavez Jr. betting odds
According to SportsbookReview.com, Daniel Jacobs opened as a -1736 favorite, which means you'd need to bet $1,736 to win $100. Meanwhile, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. is a +813 underdog, meaning if you bet $100, you could win $813.
Daniel Jacobs record and bio
Name: Daniel Jacobs
Nationality: American
Born: Feb. 3, 1987
Height: 5-11 1/2
Reach: 73 inches
Total fights: 38
Record: 35-3 with 29 knockouts
Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. record and bio
Name: Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.
Nationality: Mexican
Born: Feb. 16, 1986
Height: 6-0
Reach: 73 inches
Total fights: 55
Record: 51-3-1 with 33 knockouts
Jacobs vs. Chavez Jr. fight card
| Matchup | Class | Belt |
| Daniel Jacobs vs. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. | Catchweight, 173 lbs | |
| Julio Cesar Martinez vs. Cristofer Rosales | Flyweight | WBC (vacant) |
| Maurice Hooker vs. Uriel Perez | Welterweight | |
| Reshat Mati vs. Rakim Johnson | Welterweight | |
| Liam Smith vs. Roberto Garcia | Middleweight | |
| Josh Kelly vs. Winston Campos | Welterweight | |
| Daniyar Yeleussinov vs. Alan Sanchez | Welterweight | |
| Gabriel Rosado vs. Humberto Gutierrez Ochoa | Super Middleweight | |
| Raymond Ford vs. Francisco Muro | Featherweight |