Notebook: Mbilli eyes bigger fights, but Derevyanchenko in way
Heavyweights Makhmudov, Vianello meet in co-feature; Puello to defend WBC 140 title vs. Martin; Warren signs top prospect; Quick hits; Show and tell
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While unified super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez rules the roost at 168 pounds and is boxing’s biggest star and top money maker, unbeaten but still largely unknown contender Christian Mbilli is seeking to raise his profile in the division.
The hope, of course, is to eventually land a world title opportunity against Alvarez, a vision shared by Top Rank chairman Bob Arum, who signed Mbilli to a co-promotional deal earlier this year to work with his Montreal-based promoter Eye of the Tiger in guiding is career.
“As with any of my fighters, my goal is to bring Christian Mbilli to the top,” Arum said this week. “I believe a fight against Canelo would be excellent, and at this point, I even believe Mbilli would win. Of course, I can’t speak for Canelo, but I’m optimistic we could set up the fight in May (of 2025).”
That may be a long shot, but Mbilli can at least help raise his profile with an impressive win against the most significant opponent of his career in battle-tested former three-time middleweight title challenger Sergiy Derevyanchenko. They will square off in the 10-round main event of the Top Rank Boxing on ESPN card on Saturday (ESPN, ESPN Deportes, ESPN+, 10 p.m. ET with preliminaries on ESPN+ beginning at 5 p.m. ET) at Videotron Centre in Quebec City, Canada.
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“I hope this opportunity is the final step towards a world title,” said Mbilli, who, like Derevyanchenko, has a very fan-friendly style. “I think we will have a great fight, maybe the fight of the year.
“I want to show that I’m the best. I want to show that I’m the real monster. We’re going to see who has the best conditioning. We’re going to see who has the best boxing. For me, it will be no surprise because I’m the best. I can't guarantee a knockout, but I can guarantee that if he gives me an opening, I’ll take it.”
Mbilli (27-0, 23 KOs), 29, a Cameron native, who was a 2016 Olympian for France, and now fights out of Montreal, is going into his second fight of the deal with Top Rank. He blew away Mark Heffron with a body shot in 40 seconds in the first fight on May 25.
“We might be closer than we think to the big fight,” said Marc Ramsay, Mbilli’s trainer. “When you look at it, Christian is starting to cover all the bases. That's what makes the fight against Derevyanchenko so important. It's the ultimate test.”
Even if Mbilli beats Derevyanchenko, a title shot next is by no means a given. What could be far more likely, and a high-profile bout even with out a world title at stake, would be against top contender Jaime Munguia, who lost a highly entertaining decision to Alvarez in May. Munguia makes his Top Rank debut against Erik Bazinyan on Sept. 20 and if he wins and Mbilli is successful on Saturday, Top Rank has designs on a Munguia-Mbilli fight, another significant fight in the division that likely would produce intense action.
Before Team Mbilli can make future plans, Derevyanchenko (15-5, 10 KOs), 38, a 2008 Ukrainian Olympian fighting out of Brooklyn, New York, is going to have his say.
He is a much higher level opponent than anyone Mbilli has fought. Derevyanchenko has faced several top opponents, never been stopped, and always given them tough fights even in losses, including in middleweight title bouts against Gennadiy Golovkin (which many thought Derevyanchenko won), Daniel Jacobs (a split decision) and Jermall Charlo. He also suffered a majority decision loss to Carlo Adames, who went on to win the WBC middleweight title, and a razor-close decision to Munguia 14 months ago in an epic slugfest voted 2023 fight of the year by the Boxing Writers Association of America.
“Every fight that I’ve had has helped me get this opportunity,” Derevyanchenko said. “I’m ready for an aggressive fight. I’ve seen him fight. He is strong. He is aggressive. But I’m ready.
“As soon as I heard about this fight, I decided I was going to sign to fight him because this is the No.1 guy (in the WBC rankings). My experience is an advantage. It has helped me and we will see what happens.”
Andre Rozier, Derevyanchenko’s trainer, is confident his man will rise to the occasion.
“Mbilli says he’s going to beat Sergiy like no one has before,” Rozier said. “I think he’s in for a rude awakening because Sergiy is superior on many levels and will show Mbilli what an elite boxer is.”
Makhmudov, Vianello meet again
In the co-feature, hard-hitting heavyweights Arslanbek Makhmudov and Guido Vianello square off in a 10-rounder nine years after they first met in the World Series of Boxing.
The 6-foot-5½, 260 pound Makhmudov (19-1, 18 KOs), 35, a Russia native based in Montreal, is two fights removed from a shockingly one-sided fourth-round knockout loss to Agit Kabayel, who knocked him down three times, in December in Saudi Arabia.
The 6-6, 246-pound Vianello (12-2-1, 10 KOs), 30, a 2016 Italian Olympian, is 2-2 in his last four bouts and looking to rebound from a 10-round split decision to fellow Olympian Efe Ajagba in April.
In their 2015 fight in the World Series of Boxing, Makhmudov won by fourth-round TKO when Vianello retired due to an ear injury. He is looking to do more damage to Vianello in this fight.
“I respect my opponents, but I go in there to hunt,” Makhmudov said. “It’s nothing personal, but I will make this the baddest night of his life. This is my goal. I’m sorry, but the sport is like that. Ever since I started my career, my goal has been to become a champion, and I have to destroy anyone who is against me.”
Vianello said he quickly got over the loss to Ajagba and is pumped up to fight Makhmudov again.
“I respect my opponent a lot,” he said. “My last fight was very close. I thought I won that fight. But that’s in the past. We can’t change the past. So, we are here to change the future.
“My opponent is the perfect guy to make a big step in the heavyweight division. I want to be among the top heavyweights in one year from now. So it’s the perfect time for me. I’m 30 years old, and I've worked my whole life for this. This is my time. You’ll see it on Saturday. I’ll be too fast and too good for him. I just need to be myself to win this fight.”
Puello-Martin deal made
Representatives for WBC junior welterweight titlist Alberto Puello and mandatory challenger Sandor Martin reached an agreement on Friday for the mandatory bout and a purse bid scheduled for later in the day was canceled.
“Puello vs. Martin is on as parties have agreed on terms for the mandatory defense,” WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman wrote in a text message.
Puello promoter Tom Brown of TGB Promotions will promote the bout on a Premier Boxing Champions card after making a deal with Martin co-promoter Top Rank. The date and site, however, are not set but the fight would take place before the end of the year either on Prime Video or a Prime Video pay-per-view card.
After Devin Haney vacated the WBC 140-pound title and was granted a request to be re-classified as its “champion in recess” while he took a break, the WBC elevated Puello from interim titleholder to full titlist in late June. With that move, Puello also inherited Martin as his mandatory challenger and the fight was ordered.
A purse bid was initially scheduled for July 23 but postponed before being canceled Friday after they made a deal.
Puello (23-0, 10 KOs), 30, a southpaw from the Dominican Republic, won the vacant WBC interim title via split decision in an upset of Gary Antuanne Russell on June 15 on the undercard of the Gervonta Davis-Frank Martin PBC on Prime PPV event at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and quickly found himself unexpectedly elevated to full titleholder.
Martin (42-3, 15 KOs), 30, a southpaw from Spain, scored his biggest win in 2021 when he outpointed Mikey Garcia in a major upset and sent him into retirement. Two fights later, he lost a disputed 10-round split decision to Teofimo Lopez, whom he dropped in the second round, in December 2022 at New York’s Madison Square Garden. Martin has won both of his fights since.
The winner of Puello-Martin is obligated to face Russell, who was installed as the mandatory when Haney vacated and Puello was elevated.
New podcast episode
If you missed the newest podcast episode, it includes my interview with Danny Garcia ahead his fight vs. WBA 160 titlist Erislandy Lara on the Canelo-Berlanga PPV; a preview of Saturday’s Mbilli-Derevyanchenko card; lots of news of the week; a Salvador Sanchez tribute on the anniversary of his death; and more. Give it a listen, a review, and also subscribe to get an alert when the next episode is available. New shows every Thursday and Sunday night.
Warren signs Gonzalez
Queensberry promoter Frank Warren announced Friday the signing of super middleweight prospect Abel Gonzalez (7-0, 5 KOs), 26, of Hialeah, Florida, the third American Warren has signed in the past month or so, joining junior welterweight contender Brandun Lee and super middleweight prospect Nathan Lugo.
Gonzalez had a breakout performance in a first-round knockout of unbeaten Alarenz Reynolds on the ProBox TV card on June 5. He was a silver medalist at the 2021 U.S. Nationals and is a two-time U.S. National Golden Gloves champion (2017 and 2021).
Co-manager Keith Connolly, who signed Gonzalez in June, said he likely will have his first fight under Warren in October.
“When I signed blue-chip prospect Abel Gonzalez I knew he needed to be with one of the big promotional powerhouses,” Connolly, who co-manages Gonzalez with Ryan Rickey, told Fight Freaks Unite. “Queensbury was the landing spot that fit him the best. Frank and George Warren were looking to make a move into the United States talent pool and they believe in Abel’s future as much I do.
“The kid has huge power in both hands and wants to move quickly through the pro ranks. I expect him to be a world champion and one of the stars of the 168-pound division in the next few years.”
BetUS Boxing Show
If you missed the BetUS Boxing Show live at 1 p.m. ET on Friday on YouTube, please check out the replay (and also subscribe to the YouTube channel). We previewed and picked the two key fights on Saturday’s Top Rank card on ESPN: the bout between super middleweight contenders Christian Mbilli and Sergiy Derevyanchenko and the heavyweight clash between Arslanbek Makhmudov and Guido Vianello. We also took viewer questions and comments and discussed the latest boxing news! Please check out the show here:
Quick hits
Weights from Quebec City for Saturday’s Top Rank’s ESPN card (10 p.m. ET): Christian Mbilli 167.4 pounds, Sergiy Derevyanchenko 167.1; Arslanbek Makhmudov 260, Guido Vianello 245.8; Osleys Iglesias 169.3, Sena Agbeko 168.7; Abdullah Mason 136, Mike Ohan Jr. 136.7; Leila Beaudoin 129.7, Lizbeth Crespo 129.2; Wilkens Mathieu 178, Facundo Nicolas Galovar 180.9; Jahi Tucker 160, Santiago Fernandez 159.1; Thomas Chabot 128.6, Matias Ezequiel Guenemil 128.6; Dzmitry Asanau 136.3, Alexis Camejo 136.4.
With WBA cruiserweight titlist Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez and mandatory challenger Yuniel Dorticos having not made a deal by the July 31 deadline, the WBA notified both sides Friday that it has scheduled a purse bid for Aug. 27 in Houston, although they could still make a deal by then. Minimum bid is $200,000. The split of the winning bid will be 75-25 in Ramirez’s favor. Ramirez (46-1, 30 KOs), 33, a Mexican southpaw, won the title via lopsided decision from Arsen Goulamirian on April 30. Former titlist Dorticos (27-2, 25 KOs), 38, a Miami-based Cuban defector, ended an 18-month layoff June 7 with a first-round KO of Alan Campa.
The WBA also scheduled another purse bid for Aug. 27 in Houston for the bout between bridgerweight titlist Muslim Gadzhimagomedov (4-0, 3 KOs), 27, of Russia, and mandatory challenger Leon Harth (22-5-1, 13 KOs), 36, of Germany. Minimum bid is $200,000 with the split 75-25 in favor of Gadzhimagomedov, a 2020 Olympic silver medalist, who won the vacant 224-pound belt via fourth-round knockout of China’s Zhaoxin Zhang on July 12 in Serpukhov, Russia.
Blue chip lightweight prospect Curmel Moton (4-0, 3 KOs), 18, of Las Vegas, who is promoted by mentor Floyd Mayweather, will face Mexico’s Victor Vazquez (5-2-1, 0 KOs), who is 0-2-1 in his last three bouts, in a six-rounder added to the main card of Mayweather’s eight-round exhibition rematch (no weight limit) with John Gotti III on Aug. 24 (DAZN PPV) at CDMX Arena in Mexico City. Moton has looked sharp in his pro fights, most recently a second-round KO of Nikolai Buzolin on July 6 on the Nate Diaz-Jorge Masvidal pay-per-view undercard. Mayweather will be taking part in his eighth exhibition since retiring 50-0 in 2017.
Los Angeles-based junior middleweight Callum Walsh (11-0, 9 KOs), 23, who is trained by Hall of Famer Freddie Roach and was on the Fight Freaks Unite top 15 prospects list for 2023, is from Cork, Ireland, but has never fought in his home country as a pro. That will change when he headlines at 3Arena in Dublin on Sept. 20 (UFC Fight Pass), 360 Promotions announced. Walsh will defend his regional belt in a 10-rounder against Przemyslaw Runowski (22-2-1, 6 KOs), 30, of Poland. Super middleweight Ali Akhmedov (21-1, 16 KOs), 29, of Kazakhstan, will face Pierre Hubert Dibombe (21-1-1, 12 KOs), 32, of France, in the co-feature.
Show and tell
To me, David Tua was the best heavyweight of his time to not win a world title. He was a top contender for years — from the mid-1990s to the mid-2000s — and a massive puncher. He also had a tremendous resume with knockout wins against future titleholders John Ruiz, Oleg Maskaev and Hasim Rahman as well as KOs of Darroll Wilson, David Izon, Obed Sullivan, Danell Nicholson and Fres Oquendo. He also had an extremely close and disputed decision loss to Ike Ibeabuchi in one of the most action-packed fights of the 1990s. Yet, Tua only got a chance to fight for a world title once, having the misfortune to come up as a mandatory challenger against the prime Lennox Lewis (the first event I ever traveled to Las Vegas to cover in 2000 when I worked for USA Today). Lewis routed Tua, who remained in contention for a few more years, during which he scored one of his most spectacular knockouts against faded former champion Michael Moorer in an HBO main event that I covered at ringside in Atlantic City, where undisputed future middleweight champion Jermain Taylor won in the co-feature.
When Tua-Moorer was on the drawing board, I was asked for my opinion on the match by then-HBO Sports vice president Kery Davis, for whom I regularly served as a sounding board for fights he was thinking about pursuing. I told Davis, who I was close to, that I thought it was a mismatch and that Tua would blow Moorer away. I told him quite specifically that I’d be surprised if Moorer, who did not have a good chin, got out of the first round. Davis disagreed. On fight night, Tua destroyed Moorer in 30 seconds, knocking him unconscious and nearly out of the ring.
I was in the front row of the media section directly across the ring from Davis. After the KO, we looked right at each other and Davis could do nothing other than put his head down as I smiled. The fight was on Aug. 17, 2002 — 22 years ago on Saturday. Here’s an extremely rare cardboard site poster in my collection that was displayed during fight week at the Trump Taj Mahal.
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Photos: Mbilli-Derevyanchenko and Makhmudov-Vianello: Mikey Williams/Top Rank
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