Christian Mbilli vs Sergiy Derevyanchenko Fight Preview

Unbeaten French super-middleweight contender Christian Mbilli (27-0, 23 KOs) will face Ukrainian three-time world title challenger Sergiy Derevyanchenko (15-5, 10 KOs) in a 10-round main event on Saturday, August 17, at the Centre Videotron in Quebec City, Canada. Mbilli has 23 knockouts in 27 wins, and Derevyanchenko has never been stopped. Promoted by Top Rank and Eye of the Tiger, Mbilli-Derevyanchenko will be streamed live in the U.S. on ESPN and Sky Sports in the UK.

Mbilli, a 2016 French Olympian, has left behind a trail of destruction since turning professional in February 2017. He has kept his power as he has gradually increased the level of competition. He stopped former world title challenger Nadjib Mohammedi devastatingly in 2022, then stopped Demond Nicholson the following year. Mbilli’s most recent outing in May was a 40-second demolition job on former British and Commonwealth super middleweight champion Mark Heffron. Mbilli is currently ranked in the top three by all major sanctioning organizations and number one by the WBC.

The 29-year-old is looking to continue his relentless run toward world honors against the seasoned Derevyanchenko. Mbilli may be the best super middleweight in the world without a world title right now, arriving in Quebec with plenty of momentum off the back of three stoppage wins in the past eleven months.

Speaking to Ring Magazine, Mbilli said: “It’s hard to stop a fighter that is that solid, and that always leaves everything on the ring. You would have to be in terrific shape to stop him, which I think I am. I’m ready, physically and mentally, to give him the toughest fight of his career.”

Derevyanchenko made a name for himself by pushing former champions Daniel Jacobs and Gennady Golovkin to the limit in decision losses. Many observers thought Derevyanchenko had done enough to beat Golovkin. Since Golovkin’s loss in October 2019, Derevyanchenko has gone 2-3, with losses to Jermall Charlo, Carlos Adames, and Jaime Munguia. The Ukrainian has shown that he can be a real threat to the elite at his best, but are recent fights an indicator that the 38-year-old’s best days are behind him? Mbilli is a good opponent to find the answers.

If the Derevyanchenko, who turned up against Jacobs and Golovkin, enters the ring, Mbilli will have to dig deep to prove there is validity to all of the “Next Great Super Middleweight” talks. If Derevyanchenko’s best days are behind him, as he has been losing at the world level for the past couple of years, then someone like Mbilli may just have the opportunity to make a huge statement by becoming the first man to stop the Ukrainian during the course of his 20-fight career in the professional ranks.

Speaking at the pre-fight press conference, Derevyanchenko said: “I saw him (Mbilli) fight. He’s strong, he’s aggressive, but I’m ready.”The experienced “Technician” has achievements that speak for themselves, and he clearly presents a very dangerous task for Mbilli. However, at this stage in their careers, this is a very necessary fight for Mbilli if the 29-year-old is to reach the levels he is tipped to reach.

This one is over ten rounds, which may not allow enough time for Mbilli to make a statement and get the wily, durable Derevyanchenko out of there before the final bell. The official prediction here is that this fight is coming at just the right time for the Frenchman, and Mbilli will force a late stoppage between rounds 8 and 10.