Written by Sean Crose
While there are no marquee boxing bouts on the schedule this weekend, an intriguing matchup is on the horizon in Canada as 38-year-old Sergey Derevyanchenko prepares to take on up-and-coming super middleweight Christian Mbilli at Quebec’s Centre Videotron. The fight, slated for 10 rounds in the super middleweight division, will be aired live on Saturday night on ESPN+. For Mbilli, there is much at stake in this contest, but even more so for Derevyanchenko. A loss to Mbilli could significantly dent Derevyanchenko’s chances of staging a comeback in the sport.
Since his notable battles against Daniel Jacobs and Gennady Golovkin, Derevyanchenko has not enjoyed the same level of success. Despite not emerging victorious in those fights, there were those who felt he should have been awarded the IBF middleweight title he contended for. Despite recent setbacks, Derevyanchenko remains resolute in his quest to once again make a mark in the sport.
Mbilli presents a formidable challenge for Derevyanchenko. With a nine-year age gap and a record of stopping 23 of his 27 opponents within the distance, Mbilli has yet to taste defeat since turning professional in 2017. Nevertheless, Mbilli is yet to face an opponent of Derevyanchenko’s caliber.
Mbilli and his team deserve praise for accepting this challenge at this stage of his career. Given Canelo Alvarez’s dominance in the division, taking on Derevyanchenko represents a bold move for Mbilli. It is heartening to witness a young fighter striving to forge a successful career through hard work and skill rather than mere hype and promotion.
