SAN DIEGO, Calif., October 27, 2018 – Middleweight Daniel “Miracle Man” Jacobs (34-2, 29 KOs) handed Brooklyn stablemate Sergiy Derevyanchenko of Ukraine (12-1, 10 KOs) his first loss after 12 solid rounds of boxing at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden Saturday.
The judges scored it 115-112 twice, with the third card 114-113 for Derevyanchenko from Julie Lederman. Jacobs earns the IBF World Middleweight title for his victory.
With the two so familiar with each other after 300 rounds of sparring, the more experienced Jacobs prevailed in the end thanks to a flash knockdown in the first round, but it was a little too early and too close to the bell for Jacobs to finish Derevyanchenko off. But it gave Jacobs more than a point. It gave him the mental edge and the ability to control a close fight.
Daniel Jacobs complimented Sergiy Derevyanchenko’s toughness in their fight Saturday. Photo: HBO Boxing
“My hat’s off to Sergiy Derevyanchenko, he’s a true competitor. I knew exactly what I was getting myself into. For those who said this would be an easy fight, they don’t know Sergiy Derevyanchenko. He showed true grit … I dug deep,” said Jacobs after the fight.
Jacobs fought from a southpaw stance at times through the fight, perhaps to throw his opponent off and show him a new look. He threw far more body shots and it nullified any power Derevyanchenko had to offer. But Derevyanchenko had busier rounds in the second half of the fight, and it earned him enough rounds to keep the fight very close.
Jacobs put on a solid defensive effort, and he didn’t receive the credit he deserved from the judges for deflecting many of Derevyanchenko’s shots. It was the work of a seasoned veteran staying calm under fire.
Has Jacobs earned his shot at Canelo Alvarez?
Daniel Jacobs said there was a reason Gennady Golovkin avoided Sergiy Derevyanchenko. Photo: HBO Boxing
“He’s a true competitor, strong as nails. He’s as tough as it gets,” said Jacobs.
Jacobs adds another win to the resume and he hopes now to get a shot at the man atop the middleweight division. “We absolutely want Canelo, I think that’s a fight the fans want, especially those who agree with me when I say I felt like I beat Triple G (Gennady Golovkin),” said Jacobs after the fight. “This will be a great fight for the fans, and now that I have the strap, there’s something in it for everybody. Let’s make that happen.” Jacobs said he wants to go after a title first, and then he’d consider giving Golovkin a rematch.
More of the same: Easy work for Heather Hardy over Shelly Vincent
Heather “Heat” Hardy of Brooklyn (22-0, 4 KOs) and Shelly Vincent of Providence, Rhode Island (23-2, 1 KO) fought rounds 11 through 20 in the rematch of their 2016 Fight of the Year on Saturday to open the HBO telecast. Hardy won the 10 round decision with ease. Judges scored it 99-91 and 97-93 X 2.Hardy is now the WBO World Featherweight champion.
Heather Hardy won a solidi decision victory over her foe Shelly Vincent. Photo: HBO Boxing
Hardy did far better body work and wore Vincent down. She is also the more accurate puncher and it makes the difference. Hardy landed 206 of 622 punches thrown (33 percent), with 154 power punches. Vincent landed 148 of 683 punches 27 percent) with 134 of them being power punches.
The women stood in the center of the ring and traded shots, and the action never flagged. This was a fight where three-minute rounds instead of two minutes would have made for a better fight. There is nothing prohibiting it. It’s up to the various state boxing commissions to make it happen.
Machado makes quick work of Evans with a first round knockout
They don’t get paid by the hour, after all. Super featherweights Alberto Machado (21-0, 17 KOs) of Puerto Rico scored an impressive first round knockout of Yuandale Evans of Cleveland (20-2, 14 KOs), remaining undefeated and retaining his WBA World Super Featherweight title.
Alberto Machado put on a spectacular display of power in his first round knockout over Yuandale Evans. Photo: HBO Boxing
Machado threw 22 power punches and made nearly all of them count, scoring two knockdowns before ending the fight with a blistering right to the head, dropping Evans to the canvas out cold at 2:25 of the first. Alexis Arguello himself would have been proud.
“Thank you, thank you for all the people here,” said Machado. “This victory is for you, all my Puerto Rican people.” Machado credited a strong camp in Los Angeles, his fourth with trainer Freddie Roach. “I had the power and that’s all. I wanted to take my time, but I kill him,” said Machado.
Machado said he might like to fight Francisco Vargas next in a classic Mexico vs. Puerto Rico matchup. How about taking on Miguel Berchelt instead in a unification fight?
Gayle Lynn Falkenthal, APR, is President/Owner of the Falcon Valley Group in San Diego, California. She is also a veteran boxing observer covering the Sweet Science for Communities. Read more Ringside Seat in Communities Digital News. Follow Gayle on Facebook and on Twitter @PRProSanDiego.
Copyright © 2018 by Falcon Valley Group
