Christian Mbilli (27-0, 23 KOs) will take an enormous step up in school towards the skilled Sergiy Derevyanchenko (15-5, 10 KOs) of their 10-round struggle at tremendous middleweight this Saturday, August seventeenth, on the Videotron Centre in Quebec Metropolis, Canada. Saturday’s occasion shall be proven dwell on ESPN beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET.
A Step Up in Class for Mbilli
This struggle will present whether or not the #1 WBC-ranked Mbilli has the true items to contend for a world title towards unified tremendous middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez. At 38, Derevyanchenko continues to be preventing at a particularly excessive degree and is a significantly better fighter than anybody the 2016 Olympian Mbilli has fought throughout his brief seven-year professional profession.
Mbilli is 29, however he’s not younger for his age because of his model of preventing, 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 superb signal if you’re a few fighter who has but to struggle 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 towards 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 acquired left. He’s probably the most harmful 15-5 man on the earth. You’re by no means going to see a man with a report 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 struggle between Christian Mbilli and Sergiy Derevyanchenko.
Derevyanchenko final fought in April, beating Vaughn Alexander by a one-sided ten-round unanimous choice. He appeared good in that struggle. Earlier than that, Derevyanchenko misplaced a disappointing 12-round unanimous choice 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 burden lessons round 160 and 168. He misplaced to Munguia in his final struggle in a Struggle 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 towards Jacobs have been questionable. He might have simply gained each. His struggle with Munguia might 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 assume 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 appeared in fights towards Rohan Murdock and Carlos Gongora, he doesn’t appear to be he’s the true factor. He’s a fighter who throws many punches and leaves himself open for pictures. That model would work if he had a greater chin, however he doesn’t, and it’d meet up with him on Saturday evening towards Derevyanchenko.
“He has an unimaginable engine and is available in unbelievable form. He’s massive for the burden class, he’s younger [29], and he’s motivated,” mentioned Algieri about Mbilli. “It’s a really tall process going towards a man like Mbilli able the place Derevyanchenko is at. Can he get the win? It’s onerous 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 struggle towards Munguia, however he gassed out within the later rounds, which value him the struggle. If Mbilli’s gasoline tank holds up, he might win this struggle on a choice.
What’s working towards Mbilli is that it’s a ten-round struggle, and Derevyanchenko, on his current type, may have sufficient to struggle onerous for all the struggle. Whether or not the judges give Derevyanchenko the choice is one other factor. He’s robbed a number of instances earlier than, which can additionally occur on Saturday.
