Herschel Jacobs

Hershel Jacobs (June 3, 1940 - December 19, 2015) was a light heavyweight boxing contender, a New York State Light Heavyweight champion, and a noted boxing trainer in New York City.
Boxing career
Trained by Maurice Sposato AKA Kid Sharkey, boxing professionally in the light heavyweight division, Jacobs compiled a career record of 27 wins, 20 losses, and two draws, with 11 knockouts. After losing his professional four round debut by decision in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada, Jacobs won 14 of his next 16 pro bouts, fighting in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts, losing only two decisions including to middleweight contender Ruben Carter. Stepping up to 10 round main event bout status, 13 of Jacob's next 17 bouts were ten rounders. He won seven of them and lost six, with three knockouts.
Important bouts in 1971
In March 1971, Jacobs, in a rematch of a ten round decision loss in 1967 to former World Light Heavyweight champion Harold Johnson, stopped him on cuts in the third round at sunnyside Gardens in Queens, New York, reaching the world rankings with top ten contender status, and ending Johnson's career. Jacobs then won a ten round decision over 60 win fighter George Johnson in July 1971 in Portland, Maine. On November 29, 1971, Jacobs then faced light heavyweight contender Hal Carroll at the Westchester County Center in White Plains, New York. Carroll had lost a challenge for the World Boxing Council Light Heavyweight title to Bob Foster earlier in 1971. In the only 12 round bout and only title bout of his career, Jacobs won a unanimous 12 round decision over Carroll to win the vacant USA New York State Light Heavyweight title.
Bout with Ken Norton in 1972
On June 5, 1972, light heavyweight Jacobs, world ranked, weighing in at 178 pounds, was improperly allowed to fight a ten round bout with future World Boxing Council World Heavyweight champion Ken Norton, who weighed in at 208 pounds. The 28 pound weight disparity (and the fact the fighters were in different divisions) should have prevented Jacobs from fighting Norton in the wrong division as per California State Athletic Commission regulations. Norton won a ten round decision, and Jacobs then retired at age 32.
Comeback as a cruiserweight in 1978
Jacobs attempted a comeback on January 18, 1978, at age 37 in the cruiserweight division, and got stopped in the fourth round by Eddie Phillips, a fighter with a losing record, at Westchester County Arena in White Plains, New York. It was the only time in Jacobs career he had been stopped, and he retired for good at that point.
Life as a trainer
After retirement, Jacobs worked as a professional boxing trainer of amateurs and professionals at Cage Recreation Center in White Plains, New York, and at the Yonkers Police Athletic League athletic facility. Among the boxing contenders he trained were heavyweight Renaldo Snipes, middleweight Doug DeWitt, and welterweight Milton Guest. Jacobs elaborated on his boxing and training career in a rare television interview with 'In The Ring'.
Death
Jacobs resided in Port Chester, New York. Jacobs died at a nursing home in Yonkers, New York, at age 75, on December 19, 2015, after several years at the hospice.<ref name="realcombatmedia.com"/>

Main Menu

See Also

Main Menu