Christian Mbilli passed an acid test with flying colours, as he defended his WBC Continental Americas super middleweight title with a wide points win against Sergiy Derevyanchenko at Centre Videotron in Quebec on Saturday.
Mbilli (28-0, 23 KOs) came into this one well in world title contention, but without a significant big name on his record to fully back up his credentials. The 29-year-old warmed up for this one in May, scoring a facile first round knockout win against Mark Heffron. Derevyanchenko (15-6, 10 KOs) had only previously lost in elite or world class company, and was fully expected to provide him with a stern test.
‘Solide’ stamped his authority early on here, and the visitor’s task was made even harder by what looked like a torn left bicep during round four.
The Ukrainian battled, but Mbilli stepped up the pace and cranked up the pressure, and the sixth saw him land almost at will with a thumping right hand.
The pair went toe-to-toe in round seven, but Derevyanchenko came off the worse, and looked hurt, and there were strong conversations in his corner ahead of the ninth to pull him out of the contest.
The 38-year-old somehow made it to the final bell, eating several combination shots from the Frenchman along the way.
Mbilli was adjudged the winner by scores of 100-90, 99-91, and 98-92, as he moved closer to a meeting with the leading lights of the division.
The 29-year-old is the number one ranked contender to Canelo Alvarez’s WBC title and called out the Mexican, who defends his WBC, WBA ’super’ and WBO crowns against Edgar Berlanga on September 14 in Las Vegas.
“I want my fight with the number one,” he told ESPN post-fight.
“I think it will be easy [an] boxing [fight] for Canelo.
“He’s going to win this fight, but after I think I’ll be ready for him.”
Vianello halts Makhmudov after horror eye injury
On the undercard, the career of once promising heavyweight Arslanbek Makhmudov appears in tatters, as he was stopped by the ringside doctor in round eight of his clash with Guido Vianello (13-2-1, 11 KOs).
Makhmudov (19-2, 18 KOs) ate a whole bunch of right hands, and his eye was swelling badly as early as the third round.
The ‘Lion’ somehow managed to survive until the eighth, with his eye a grotesque mess, and at the start of the session, the doctor decided that he was unable to continue, and the fight was waved off.
Iglesias sees off Agbeko
Osleys Iglesias again impressed, and the rising super middleweight crushed Sena Agbeko inside two rounds.
After scoring an opening round knockdown with a stiff right hand, Iglesias (12-0, 11 KOs) finished the job a round later, overwhelming Agbeko (28-4, 22 KOs) in the corner and forcing the referee to jump in.
Agbeko was also halted in two rounds by David Morrell in his last outing.
Remaining Undercard
The vacant WBO International super featherweight title was claimed by Leila Beaudoin (12-1, 1 KO), as she took a clear points win against Lizbeth Crespo (15-8, 4 KOs).
The Canadian came through on the cards by scores of 100-90, 99-91 and 98-92.
In eight rounders, Jahi Tucker (12-1-1, 5 KOs) won on points against Santiago Fernandez (8-2-1, 4 KOs) and at lightweight, rising prospect, Abdullah Mason (15-0, 13 KOs) dropped Mike Ohan Jr (19-3, 9 KOs) twice and then forced Ohan Jr’s corner to pull their man out early on in the second round of their contest.
THE UPPERCUT FROM MASON 😳 pic.twitter.com/x8L1kqvdb4
— ESPN Ringside (@ESPNRingside) August 18, 2024
Canadian super featherweight prospect, Thomas Chabot (11-0, 8 KOs) won handily on points against Matias Ezequiel Guenemil (10-4-1, 5 KOs), and Belarussian Dzmitry Asanau (8-0, 3 KOs) won all eight rounds against Alexis Gabriel Camejo (8-4-2, 1 KO).
In the sole six rounder, Wilkins Mathieu (10-0, 6 KOs) took all six rounds in his super middleweight meeting with Facundo Nicolas Galovar (15-12-2, 9 KOs).
