The Brook fight is most instructive on how to possibly blunt GGG’s pressure. It involves counterpunching in combinations and using lateral movement. Except, Brook has a broken eye socket so the best we can say about that strategy is its inconclusive.
Whenever real power threatens GGG, he establishes his jab. The Lemieux fight is instructive here. GGG hasn’t fought anyone else with Lemieux’s power. Some will incorrectly claim Jacobs cracks harder, but Lemieux’s left hook is more compact and violent. GGG knew he had to control distance, and turned the fight into a jab-fest. Lemieux never had a chance to unleash the hook with great effect. There was one moment when GGG’s hook and Lemieux’s hook connected simultaneously. Lemieux staggered backwards and GGG seemed unfazed. This moment is why Jacobs stands no chance and why GGG takes punches better than any fighter today.
Look at GGG’s stance. Shoulders are constantly raised, chin is always tucked. Now watch Jacobs – stands straight up and chin is out. Lemieux had raised shoulders but the chin wasn’t as tucked. Furthermore, GGG’s jabfest caused Lemieux to spend the last four rounds of that fight manically raising and lowering his hands. GGG’s precise placement beat the manic movement. Jacobs keeps his hands too low and doesn’t move his head very well. If Jacobs gets off a clean punch, GGG will pound his chest and nod at Jacobs. That’s his move. GGG’s massive neck and shoulder muscles allow him to absorb clean shots without much damage. They allow him to throw precise jabs that feel more like straight right hands.
To answer the question of how Jacobs can win, it involves completely reinventing his style. It can’t be done. He’s too comfortable standing straight up and keeping his hands low. His hands aren’t fast enough to keep GGG from pressuring him. Pressure fighters like Pirog showed that Jacobs can be crowded and knocked out with a clean shot to the chin.
If Jacobs lasts more than 5 rounds, he should be very proud. Jacobs and his team know all this, and that’s why a fight that was ordered in the second week of September took until Dec. 17 to be made.