Christian Mbilli (27-0, 23 KOs) will take a giant step up at school in opposition to the skilled Sergiy Derevyanchenko (15-5, 10 KOs) of their 10-round combat at tremendous middleweight this Saturday, August seventeenth, on the Videotron Centre in Quebec Metropolis, Canada. Saturday’s occasion might be proven dwell on ESPN beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET.
A Step Up in Class for Mbilli
This combat will present whether or not the #1 WBC-ranked Mbilli has the true items to contend for a world title in opposition to unified tremendous middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez. At 38, Derevyanchenko continues to be combating at a particularly excessive degree and is a significantly better fighter than anybody the 2016 Olympian Mbilli has fought throughout his quick seven-year professional profession.
Mbilli is 29, however he’s not younger for his age on account of his type of combating, which includes nonstop punching with none semblance of protection. He’s thrilling however will get hit, and we’ve seen him damage.
That’s not a great signal if you’re a few fighter who has but to combat his first true world-class opponent. Saturday would be the first time in Mbilli’s profession that he’s fought a real top-tier contender, and it won’t go effectively for him if he forgets about his protection.
Derevyanchenko’s Spectacular Resume
Derevyanchenko, who was born in Ukraine, has a great deal of expertise throughout his ten-year professional profession with fights in opposition to these notable guys:
– Jaime Munguia
– Gennadiy Golovkin
– Jermall Charlo
– Daniel Jacobs
– Carlos Adames
– Tureano Johnson
“Derevyanchenko is a bit lengthy within the tooth and it depends upon what he’s bought left. He’s probably the most harmful 15-5 man on this planet. You’re by no means going to see a man with a file like that. You bought to look previous the numbers with a man like Sergiy,” mentioned Chris Algieri to the Probox TV YouTube channel about this Saturday’s combat between Christian Mbilli and Sergiy Derevyanchenko.
Derevyanchenko final fought in April, beating Vaughn Alexander by a one-sided ten-round unanimous resolution. He regarded good in that combat. Earlier than that, Derevyanchenko misplaced a disappointing 12-round unanimous resolution to Jaime Munguia final 12 months in June 2023 in a razor-close contest that was determined within the remaining spherical.
“He’s been in with the tip-top guys with all the load courses round 160 and 168. He misplaced to Munguia in his final combat in a Combat of the 12 months,” continued Algieri about Derevyanchenko. “Munguia wanted a knockdown within the final spherical to tug that out of the hearth to get the win. He [Derevyanchenko] has losses to GGG and Carlos Adames as effectively.”
What Algieri doesn’t say is that Derevyanchenko’s loss to Golovkin and defeat in opposition to Jacobs had been questionable. He may have simply gained each. His combat with Munguia may have been a draw, however the judges went with the youthful fighter.
Proving Floor for a World Title Shot
“So, he’s solely misplaced to the who’s who sort of fighter,” mentioned Algieri. “Is Mbilli that sort of man? I personally don’t suppose so, however Sergiy is lengthy within the tooth. This isn’t his weight class at 168, and Mbilli has unimaginable momentum proper now. He’s a type of guys who’s only a workhorse.”
The best way Mbilli has regarded in fights in opposition to Rohan Murdock and Carlos Gongora, he doesn’t seem like he’s the true factor. He’s a fighter who throws many punches and leaves himself open for photographs. That type would work if he had a greater chin, however he doesn’t, and it would meet up with him on Saturday night time in opposition to Derevyanchenko.
“He has an unimaginable engine and is available in improbable form. He’s huge for the load class, he’s younger [29], and he’s motivated,” mentioned Algieri about Mbilli. “It’s a really tall process going in opposition to a man like Mbilli able the place Derevyanchenko is at. Can he get the win? It’s exhausting if you’re battling up a weight class, and also you’ve had as many robust fights as Sergiy has had.
“The query is how a lot of Sergiy is there left?” mentioned Algieri.
Derevyanchenko fought effectively in his final combat in opposition to Munguia, however he gassed out within the later rounds, which value him the combat. If Mbilli’s gasoline tank holds up, he may win this combat on a choice.
What’s working in opposition to Mbilli is that it’s a ten-round combat, and Derevyanchenko, on his current type, could have sufficient to combat exhausting for your complete combat. Whether or not the judges give Derevyanchenko the choice is one other factor. He’s robbed a number of occasions earlier than, which can additionally occur on Saturday.
