By Kenneth Friedman: Sergiy Derevyanchenko has his game plan in place that he’ll be using to dethrone WBC middleweight champion Jermall Charlo this month on September 26th on Showtime pay-per-view at the Mohegan Sun Casino, in Uncasville, Connecticut.
Charlo vs. Derevyanchenko is part of a unique doubleheader with Jermell Charlo facing Jeison Rosario as the other primary event fight earlier in the evening.
Derevyanchenko has learned from his losses to Danny Jacobs and Gennadiy Golovkin, and he wants to make sure he doesn’t repeat the mistakes. He feels that if he applied more pressure throughout both of those matches, he would have won.
Derevyanchenko needs to outwork Charlo
With the power advantage that Golovkin had, he impressed the judges enough for them to give him a close 12 round unanimous decision. The scores were 115-112, 115-112, and 114-113. Boxing News 24 scored it for Derevyanchenko eight rounds to four.
There’s another reason why it’s vital for Derevyanchenko to use constant pressure against Jermall, 30, and that’s because he’s the B-side.
If the fight is close, the chances are high that the judges will give it to Charlo (30-0, 22 KOs). He’s the unbeaten champion and the media darling heading into this contest.
It’s difficult to believe, but Derevyanchenko has lost two out of his last three fights due to controversial defeats to GGG and Jacobs. The thing is, he fought well enough to beat both guys, but he wasn’t the A-side in either of those fights.
So far, it hasn’t worked for Derevyanchenko when he’s not taken the fight to his opponents 100% of the time. That’s why he wants to change things up for the Charlo fight on September 26th.
Derevyanchenko doesn’t have the power to win rounds by landing at the same clip as Charlo. Sergiy doesn’t possess that kind of punching power, which means that his best hope of defeating Jermall is to be a lot busier.
Sergiy fixing mistakes from his game
“Jermall Charlo is a tough fight and wonderful fight,” said Derevyanchenko to Premier Boxing Champions. “It was a close fight,” said Sergiy on his defeats against Golovkin and Danny Jacobs.
“I see the mistakes I made against Golovkin and Jacobs. And I think I need more pressure and more push. I have sparring partners that are similar to Charlo.
“Every fighter has power and a good punch,” said Derevyanchenko when asked if he’s worried about Jermall’s power. “Jacobs has a good punch, and Golovkin has a good punch.
“Yeah, I’m ready for this fight. I want to put more pressure and be more aggressive, and every round is easy. This is a good opportunity to take a belt. I’m so proud to be in this show,” said Derevyanchenko.
During the times that Derevyanchenko was attacking Golovkin in the championship rounds with his body punching, he very effective. Golovkin was wilting om the pressure and the punches to the body.
GGG couldn’t take it. Earlier in the fight, Derevyanchenko came close to dropping Golovkin in round five after hurting him with body shots.
When Derevyanchenko (13-2, 10 KOs) did put the heat on Golovkin (40-1-1, 35 KOs) last October, he was getting the better of him.
When Derevyanchenko would stop attacking GGG with body shots, he would allow him to score meaningful punches.
Derevyanchenko putting Charlo on notice
“Before, I trained with [Vasiliy] Lomachenko, and I looked at him for motivation for me. He’s good motivation for me,” Derevyanchenko continued.
“My career is very long, and I have a good experience. I think he helps me in this fight. This is part of my job, and I have a good experience.
“Yes, I want to hear, ‘And the NEW champion of the world,'” Derevyanchenko said about wanting to hear his name announced as the new WBC middleweight champion after he beats Jermall Charlo.
“It is my dream, and I want to see this, ‘The new.’ It’s important for all of my fans. Not just for Ukraine, but for Italy, Kazakhstan, and the USA, of course. It’s important to me.
Derevyanchenko beating Charlo would be a shock to Showtime and Premier Boxing Champions, as Jermall is being groomed for stardom. He’s considered to be the better of the two Charlo twins.
Jermall is the one that is supposed to keep winning for a long time. So if Derevyanchenko wins this fight, it’s going to be a blow for PBC and Showtime. Derevyanchenko may need a knockout to win, though, but that’s certainly possible.
Jermall was getting worked over by 36-year-old southpaw Matt Korobov in their fight in December 2018. If Korobov was able to do that to Charlo, then Derevyanchenko can too.
Sergiy not worried about ring-rust
“He’s important for me,” said Derevyanchenko about his trainer Andre Rozier. “Every time he’s motivating, but everyone on my team is important. More tough guys live in Brooklyn.
“I’m ready. Let’s see on the 26th, let’s do a good fight, and we’ll see who is better,” Sergiy said in giving a direct message to Charlo. “Every fight I want to show when people watch my fights.
“I want to show good box, and who sees this fight. I want to show the best boxing show in my life. On September 26th, I want to show the best fight of my life.
“I don’t know. We’ll see on September 26th, but I feel good, I’m rested, and training and I’m ready,” said Derevyanchenko in responding to a question about ring-rust.
“I don’t like to give predictions, but I know it’s a good fight and tough fight. It’s a good show, a very good show,” said Derevyanchenko.
Ring-rust shouldn’t be a problem for Derevyanchenko against Charlo, as long as he’s in shape. Charlo hasn’t fought since last October, so he’s going to be affected by the inactivity as well. It’s not just Derevyanchenko.
The real worry for Derevyanchenko is all the scar tissue that he has under his right eye from the GGG fight. Derevyanchenko’s eye looks scared, and that scar tissue will likely tear once he starts getting hit by Charlo.
It will be bad news for Derevyanchenko if he’s cut early against Charlo, forcing him to fight with just one good eye.