On a new special edition of “Listen In With KNN” sports podcast and radio show with host, Kelsey Nicole Nelson, she welcomed two-time middleweight world champion, Daniel “Miracle Man” Jacobs to the show. Jacbos is looking to make his return to the ring and beat the odds after overcoming bone cancer at the beginning of his career.
To begin the show, Nelson asked Jacobs about his journey in the ring and overcoming the odds with cancer.
As Jacobs reflected on his legacy, he shared what he hopes he can accomplish at the end of his career.
“My main goal is to be in the hall of fame in boxing. That has been my goal since putting on my first pair of gloves and due to my last performance in England, even though I suffered a loss, I felt like I should have retired then. My whole career has been nothing but a miracle and an inspiration to others, so I want to come back and give more inspiration to others,” he said.
Jacobs also shared some of his greatest inspirations in boxing and those that he hopes to be next to in the International Boxing Hall of Fame. “With the likes of Roy Jones Jr, Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, and Sugar Ray Robinson. All of the guys that actually not only performed inside of the ring at a high level but actually represented something outside that inspired people. So for me to have such a great story, I want to be a candidate alongside those guys in the hall of fame and to say I meant more than just going inside of the ring and fighting,” he said.
Going off of legacy, Nelson then asked Jacobs about what it means to have his own proclaimed day, “Daniel Jacobs Day” which is celebrated in his hometown of Brownsville, Brooklyn. “It means so much to me. As a kid coming from the inner city, you always dreamed of one day having something you can be able to be proud of,” he said.
Beyond just his boxing career, Daniels described what made him who he is today which included his ability to overcome trials and tribulations. He shared how he was able to mold his life in his own hands as a fighter. He wanted to always be able to connect with the community and give back.
Jacobs continued to reflect on how “Daniel Jacobs Day” is celebrated. “They actually have some of the Brownsville greats on a mural and me. I’ve won championships and have traveled the world and to be highlighted as one of those greats, that’s my hall of fame. Every other year, we might have a band, sometimes have some form of celebration in a recreational center. We try to do different things on Daniel Jacobs Day, ” he said.
As live fans listened in to the show, and adding to the conversation on his hometown, Nelson gauged Jacobs New York sports fandom asking Jacobs about his thoughts about the New York Knicks being one win away from reaching their first Eastern Conference Final since 2000. “I have always been a basketball fan. I actually went to a Knicks game a few months ago and got a chance to see them live in person and it was incredible. The energy in the city is immaculate. It’s something you have to experience, especially being born and raised,” he said.
Reflecting back to Jacobs story of perseverance, Nelson asked Jacobs about him being diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer back in 2011. “It was devastating. I believe it was maybe in 2010 that I noticed certain symptoms that I needed to be aware of. I went to the hospital and that told me that I had a huge, massive tumor wrapped around my spine and at that time I went to the hospital, it made me partially paralyzed from the waist down. So things were looking very scary for me at that time and I didnt know if my career was on the line.
Jacobs added, “But after the surgery, the way the doctors fused my spine together, they told me that it was so severe and then my conditions were not good enough for me to be able to come back to boxing,” he said.
Jacobs went on to thank his team during the process of getting him back in shape. He also reflected on the knowledge he learned during this time about his body, and taking the best care of it
As Jacobs reflected on his life, Nelson asked about the very visible connection he has with his son and what it means to him to be a father. “My son is my biggest purpose in life. You know the day that I met him I was always driven to be the best father that I could possibly be. Now he is in his teen phase and he’s going through his own journey in life and he’s figuring out his path and it means nothing more to me than to be a deacon of hope to him. Somebody he can look up to, but also have the one-on-one experience to say that’s my dad, and my dad did extraordinary things,” he said.
To wrap up, Nelson asked Jacobs on what the future looks like for women’s boxing, as the rise of women’s sports continues. It’s in really good hands. I can tell you back in the day, in the Laila Ali days you know there were only a handful, maybe less, of women that were notarized as the top boxers in the sport of boxing for women. But now you have the Clarressa Shields of the world. Now, the sport of women’s boxing is being put on the platform for so many people and they are highlighting fights,” he said.
Nelson didn’t let Jacobs go without addressing his highly anticipated next fight as he makes his return to boxing. Jacobs shared his return to the ring this summer.
Check out the full interview here.
