By Radio Rahim
BROOKLYN - WBA Middleweight World Champion Daniel Jacobs shocked undefeated challenger Peter Quillin with a first round TKO in the all-Brooklyn main event of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING on Saturday in front of 8,443 fans at Barclays Center.
Brooklyn's Jacobs (31-1, 28 KOs) won the "Battle For Brooklyn," a matchup of top middleweights facing off in the prime of their career in their hometown.
One minute into the fight, Jacobs landed a straight right to Quillin's temple and pounced with an onslaught of punches while his opponent was against the ropes. Quillin stumbled forward and referee Harvey Dock looked in Quillin's eyes and halted the fight without the challenger ever touching the canvas.
After the fight, Dock told SHOWTIME Sports reporter Jim Gray that Quillin (32-1-1, 23 KOs) could not comprehend where he was and "was not able to continue."
"I hope he's okay," Jacobs said. "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. 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.
"I saw his eyes and it looked like his equilibrium was off. I'm not a referee, but if I was I probably would have still gave him another opportunity."
The fight, which only lasted 1:25, begged the question of a potential rematch.
"I definitely would give him a rematch," Jacobs continued. "I'm willing to fight him next if that's what the fans want."
Quillin seemed to disagree with the stoppage until watching the replay during his SHOWTIME post-fight interview.
"That's right on the temple," Quillin said. "In the moment you don't know what happens until you see it in the replay.
"This is a time you sit with your family and figure out what you have to do. I have a lot of options, maybe a rematch is the best option.