By: Sean Crose
Though there’s no main fights this weekend on the planet of boxing, there’s positively going to be an fascinating throwdown in Canada because the 38 12 months previous Sergey Derevyanchenko takes on rising tremendous middleweight Christian Mbilli at Quebec’s Centre Videotron. The bout, which is scheduled for 10 rounds within the supermiddleweight division, can be broadcast reside Saturday night time on ESPN+. There’s so much driving on this match for Mbilli and doubtless much more driving on this contest for Derevyanchenko. For if Mbilli beats his man, the probabilities of the veteran Derevyanchenko ever being acknowledged as a pressure once more can be over.
The Ukrainian fighter hasn’t taken the world by storm since his very spectacular outings in opposition to Daniel Jacobs and Gennady Golovkin. True, Derevyanchecnko misplaced these battles, however the man carried out nicely sufficient for some to consider he deserved the IBF middleweight title, which he had fought for on each these events. The Jacob’s combat was in 2018, whereas the Golovkin battle was in 2019. Since that point, nonetheless, Derevyanchenko has misplaced three out of 5 fights. Having misplaced most, if not all, of his main bouts, Derevyanchenko clearly needs to as soon as once more make his mark on the game of boxing.
He has a tall order in entrance of him in Mbilli this weekend, although. For starters, Mbilli is round 9 years youthful than he. What’s extra, Mbilli has stopped 23 of his 27 opponents inside the distance. The French (by Cameroon) fighter has by no means misplaced a combat since turning professional in 2017. Then again, Mbilli has by no means confronted a fighter like Derevyanchenko earlier than. It’s value remembering that fighters thought of completed have come again and had good second acts (George Foreman being the prime instance of this). It’s additionally value preserving in thoughts that Derevyanchenko has solely misplaced to fighters of notice (moreover Jacobs and Golovkin, Derevyanchecnko has been bested by Carlos Adames, Jermall Charlo and Jaime Munguia).
With all that being stated, Mbilli and his staff deserve credit score for being prepared to face Derevyanchenko at this level in Mbilli’s profession. Mbilli is taken into account one of many high tremendous middleweights on the planet. With Canlo Alvarez ruling over the division with an iron fist, its laborious to discover a extra profitable weight class within the present boxing scene. In different phrases, Mbilli is taking an actual danger right here. Once more, it’s good to see a younger fighter being prepared to grind out a profitable profession via laborious work and expertise somewhat than hype and cautious advertising and marketing.
