Super middleweight contender Christian Mbilli (27-0, 23 KOs) will return to action against three-time world title challenger Sergiy Derevyanchenko (15-5, 10 KOs) in a 10-round fight at the Videotron Center in Quebec , Canada. next August 17.
The announcement of this fight comes just days after Mbilli’s first-round knockout victory over Mark Heffron. The 29-year-old French Canadian boxer knocked out Heffron with a body shot just 40 seconds into the first round.
Derevyanchenko promises to be a much stronger opponent. His five defeats came at the highest level and he never lost by knockout, even to the formidable boxer Gennadiy Golovkin.
“It’s an honor to fight Sergiy Derevyanchenko,” said Cameroon-born Christian Mbilli, who represented France at the 2016 Rio Olympics. “I’ve been hearing about him since I was 16, at amateur, where he beat several French boxers.
“At the professional level he only fights big names, so this will definitely be my biggest fight yet. I can’t wait for it. It will be a war.
Sergiy Derevyanchenko, a 2008 Ukrainian Olympic boxer, won nearly 400 amateur fights. Now, after 10 years as a professional boxer, he has failed to win the middleweight title three times, including a split decision loss to Danny Jacobs in 2018 and a unanimous decision loss to Gennadiy Golovkin the next year.
Derevyanchenko moved up to super middleweight last year and lost to Jaime Munguia in a fight that was a fight of the year contender. In April, he returned to winning ways with a unanimous decision win over Vaughn Alexander.
“I made the decision to move up to 168 pounds to win the world title. Throughout my career I have always fought the best in the world and on August 17 it will be no different,” said 38-year-old Sergiy Derevyanchenko.
“I will face a tough opponent in Christian Mbilli, who is ranked number one in the WBC. If I win this fight, I hope to fight for the world title, which is always my main goal.
“I hope that August 17 will be a war and a fight worthy of being called the fight of the year, and that I will be the winner.”
The fight card will be promoted by Eye of the Tiger and Top Rank.
“There are few fighters I enjoy watching more than Christian Mbilli and I can’t wait to see him perform in front of the fans in Quebec City,” said Top Rank President Bob Arum.
“That said, he will have a tough task against Sergiy Derevyanchenko, one of the best action fighters in the sport. This will be a fight of the year contender for however long it lasts.
“Derevianchenko’s achievements speak for themselves. “It’s a very dangerous match, but very important for the development of Christian Mbilli,” said Eye of the Tiger president Camille Estephan.
“A victory is important not only for the rest of his career, but also for Quebec boxing which, with a significant victory, will be in an excellent position to host important fights.
Article tag: Christian Mbilli, Sergiy Derevyanchenko
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