When undefeated New York City middleweight Jacob Solis returns to fight on a December 17th show, presented by Boxing Insider Promotions and streamed live on DAZN, he’ll be doing so in the intimate surroundings of Sony Hall in historic Times Square. The 33 year-old Solis has taken an unusual path to pro boxing. He started boxing at the age of nine because his mother needed a “babysitter” for Jacob and his younger sister in Santa Fe Springs in Los Angeles County. After training with his sister a few times, Solis admitted that he was scared of boxing when he first started sparring experienced foes.

 

“They threw me in with junior amateur champions and I got my bell rung,” Solis explained. “I played baseball and hockey but had never boxed before. But I eventually fell in love with boxing and I’m grateful to have done it at such a young age.”

 

Solis, however, didn’t fall in love enough to stop focusing on baseball in high school. He did start mixed martial arts training. In his early twenties, Solis started to coach boxing and six years ago he moved to New York City, where he continued training people at a local gym. Jacob didn’t compete in boxing until he was 27. He turned pro on Dec. 16, 2023, stopping Tevin Terrance in the third round at Sony Hall on the “Holiday Fight Night 2”.

 

He returns to the scene of his pro debut next Tuesday night in a four-round bout against Daniel Jefferson (5-3, 0 KOs). “Fighting at Sony Hall is special for me,” Solis said. “It’s super small there without a bad seat in the house. I live in New York City – only a 20-minute train ride to the venue from my house – and all my friends will be there. This is my fourth fight promoted by Larry (Goldberg); I fought twice in Atlantic City. I prefer fighting at Sony Hall because it’s so moody and dark with a New York crowd. And I don’t have to travel far for the weigh-in and fight.”

 

Self-described as a slick, defensive boxer as an amateur, Solis noted that he has become more of a power puncher as a pro, displaying a Mexican style of fighting.

 

Solis is managed by TMA Management (Martin Hopwood) and trained by Jose Guzman. Proving that he’s not a typical boxer, Jacob’s chief second is his best friend, pro boxer Josh Popper (2-0), and Solis serves as his chief second as well.

 

If everything works out well for Solis, he will open a gym in New York City to coach boxers and strength-and-conditioning. “Jacob is the perfect fighter to feature at Sony Hall,” commented promoter Larry Goldberg, the New York State Boxing Hall of Fame’s 2024 Promoter of the Year. “He is exciting, brings a crowd and his management and trainers are great people. People at the venue and local boxing fans are always asking when Jacob is fighting next. We took him pro last year and it’s great to see how far he’s come in such a short time.”