Born in Manchester, Jacobs boxed out of the Fox ABC in Ancoats as an amateur,[1] and won the ABA lightweight (60 kg) championship in 1986.

[2] He represented England and won a bronze medal in the -60 Kg division at the 1986 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, Scotland [3] following in the footsteps of his father Joey Jacobs Sr.

In September 1987 he beat Carl Crook on points to take the BBBofC Central Area lightweight title.

In November 1988 he challenged for the British lightweight title held by Steve Boyle, the defending champion stopping him in the eighth round.

[4] In June 1991 he travelled to Italy to challenge for the WBO world junior lightweight title held by Kamel Bou-Ali.