(Quebec) Christian Mbilli and Sergyi Derevyanchenko are used to spectacular fights. For their summit duel on August 17, at the Videotron Center in Quebec, the two super middleweights promise nothing less than the fight of the year.
“We were 50% of the fight of the year in 2023 against (Jaime) Munguia; we will be 50% of the fight of the year in 2024 with Mbilli. The only difference will be the result,” said Andre Rozier, the Ukrainian’s Brooklyn-based trainer, about their June 10, 2023 fight, lost by unanimous decision.
“There’s the spectacle too,” Mbilli noted of his often spectacular fights. We play a sport, but I am of the opinion that we are there to put on a big show, to entertain the public. […] I always guarantee a fight with a good show. This will be the case again on August 17. »
We cannot say now whether the two men will be right, but the poster promises. Mbilli (27-0, 23 KOs) is ranked first contender in the World Boxing Council (WBC), second in the World Boxing Association (WBA) and third in the International Boxing Federation (IBF) and World Boxing Organization (WBO).
Without a shadow of a doubt, Derevyanchenko (15-5, 10 KOs) represents his most formidable opponent since his professional debut.
“Absolutely,” assured Mbilli. Look at all the champions he faced as professionals and all his fights as amateurs: only a few defeats in some 400 fights. »
“It’s clear,” said his trainer Marc Ramsay. “In the scale of the event, but also in the quality of the boxer we’re facing. We only have to look at his track record: all the guys who were able to beat him were either world champions or became world champions.”
We should therefore not believe that Derevyanchenko’s five defeats on his record –– four in his last six fights – make him an easy opponent.
He lost split decisions to Daniel Jacobs and Munguia, in addition to a majority decision to Carlos Adames, all close outings and contested decisions. After going down in the first round against Gennadiy Golovkin, he got back up and put up a tough fight against the man who was still at the top of his game in 2019, losing by unanimous decision by scores of 115-112 (twice) and 114-113.
“He’s a guy who flirts with that level,” Ramsay added about Derevyanchenko. This is a bit like the last obstacle on our road. If we are able to defeat this guy like we think we will, that will mean a lot. »
Before accepting this fight against Derevyanchenko, Mbilli was offered three names. The latter never hesitated to choose the Ukrainian.
“It’s the most dangerous, it’s the most popular name we had. And he’s one of the boxers that if I beat him the way I think, my name will be in the discussion as Canelo Alvarez’s next opponent. […] I’m going to hurt him,” Mbilli said.
“The other fights were interesting fights, but we went with the hardest one,” Ramsay confirmed. “It’s also the one that offers the biggest reward.”
“When you look at 168 pounds, I think Christian is definitely in the top six or seven in the division,” Derevyanchenko said. “We’ll see if that’s the case.”
“He brings something to 168 pounds,” Rozier added. But we’ve been elite for 15 years. We have always prepared extremely well. We do not take this mission lightly. It will be a tough fight for both clans. »
EOTTM promises a strong undercard to heat up the crowd before the Mbilli-Derevyanchenko clash.
For his second visit to the amphitheater of the Old Capital in seven months, EOTTM will offer a heavyweight duel in the semi-final, while Arslanbek Makhmudov (19-1, 18 KOs) will face the Italian Guido Vianello (12-2-1, 10 KOs).
Makhmudov, 12th WBC contender, will face in Vianello a boxer who, without being part of the division’s elite, acts as a good “gatekeeper”. He just lost a split decision to Efe Ajagbat, top 10 in the three major associations, including No. 5 in the WBC, last April.
Marc Ramsay’s protégé got back to winning ways in his last outing, defeating Miljan Rovcanin in less than two rounds at the Casino de Montréal last month.
He had just suffered his first defeat in December, being knocked out. by Agit Kabayel. Above all, he suffered a double fracture of his right hand and a dislocation of his thumb in this duel, serious injuries which required a long period of rehabilitation.
The rest of the menu promises not to be banal. The International Boxing Organization (IBO) super middleweight world champion, Osleys Iglesias (11-0, 10 KOs), will notably be in action. The president of EOTTM, Camille Estephan, however, could not guarantee on Tuesday that his title would be at stake.
EOTTM also called on boxers from the Quebec region in Wilkens Mathieu (9-0, 6 KOs) and Leïla Beaudoin (11-1, 1 KO), in addition to the pugilist from Thetford Mines, Thomas Chabot (10-0, 8 KO). EOTTM’s new recruit Dzmitry Asanau (7-0, 3 KOs), as well as the prospects of Top Rank, co-promoter of the event, Abdullah Mason (13-0, 11 KOs) and Jahi Tucker (11-1-1, 5 KOs), will also be there.
The event will be featured on ESPN in the United States and on PunchingGrace.com in Canada.