With over 300 rounds of sparring against each other, Danny Jacobs and Sergiy Derevyanchenko are more than familiar with each other.
But if Jacobs (34-2, 29 KOs) wants to continue to assert himself as a top middleweight — and possibly land a shot against Canelo Alvarez or rematch with Gennady Golovkin — he’s likely going to have to get Derevyanchenko (12-0, 10 KOs) out of his way in their fight Saturday night (10 p.m. ET, HBO) at the Hulu Theater inside Madison Square Garden. And in convincing fashion.
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That’s a challenge that Jacobs is up for, regardless of the circumstance.
“This platform that I have to prove that I’m the best middleweight in the world is a very difficult task and I thank Sergiy for accepting this challenge, even though it’s bittersweet because we’ve known each other for some time — sparring partners, [Derevyanchenko’s trainer] Gary [Stark Jr.] was a former trainer of mine,” Jacobs said during the final press conference earlier in the week. “So, to see these guys on the opposite side of the ring come fight night, it’s going to be bittersweet.”
Bittersweet, but part of the boxing business. Plus, it should help that the bout is for the vacant IBF world middleweight title. So, while “The Miracle Man” looks to take the next step in his career, “The Technician” seeks a win against his toughest opponent to date.
“It’s going to be a big war,” Derevyanchenko said, “and the belt is going to me.”
The Jacobs-Derevyanchenko main fight card also includes Alberto Machado facing Yuandale Evans for Machado’s WBA “regular” junior lightweight title and Heather Hardy and Shelly Vincent having a rematch for the vacant WBO women’s featherweight championship.
Sporting News will be live-blogging the main card’s round-by-round results right here, beginning at 10 p.m.
Here’s a look at the full Jacobs-Derevyanchenko fight card.
(All times Eastern.)
Round 1: After feeling each other out for the opening minute, Sergiy Derevyanchenko caught Danny Jacobs with a big right hook out of the clinch. Jacobs looked to the ref, as if to complain and Derevyanchenko popped him again. That immediately let Jacobs know he was in a fight with his former sparring partner. And “The Miracle Man” responded accordingly, dropping Derevyanchenko with an overhand right by the ropes. That was a filthy shot that found Derevyanchenko’s head. (10-8 Jacobs)
11:07 p.m.: And here comes Danny Jacobs to the sounds of LL Cool J’s classic “Mama Said Knock You Out!” Main event time! This is for the vacant IBF middleweight title.
11:06 p.m.: HBO is definitely not wasting time with this broadcast. Sergiy Derevyanchenko is already in the ring.
11:03 p.m.: The crowd here at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden is still reeling from Machado’s scintillating first-round KO of Yuandale Evans. Golden Boy seems to have a star on its hands with the 28-year-old champ, who improves to 21-0. Roy Jones Jr. said it best:
“His nickname is “Money Shot” for a reason.” — Roy Jones Jr. on @xplosivomachado pic.twitter.com/dbQuTOpkgm
10:51 p.m.: Alberto Machado dropped Yuandale Evans with a left hook early into the first round. Moments after Evans got up, he was staggered by a right hook and a flurry from Machado had the ref registering a standing eight-count. From there, a vicious right hook ended things as Evans head bounced off the canvas. Pulverizing KO from Machado, your winner and still champion. What a knockout!
10:46 p.m.: Alberto Machado and Yuandale Evans are already in the ring for their 12-round clash for Machado’s WBA “regular” junior lightweight title. Who’s taking this bout?
10:42 p.m.: Hardy def. Vincent by unanimous decision (97-93, 97-93, 99-91). This was the kind of fight — emphasis on fight — that could have gone the other way in the favor of Vincent. Regardless, that 99-91 score was too generous. With the win, Heather Hardy becomes the new WBO women’s featherweight champ. What a magical moment for the Brooklyn native, who pushed for women’s boxing to be televised on HBO for years. Now, she’s crowned champion on HBO. It’s bittersweet because of the network’s swan song from boxing, but still a memorable moment for sure.
10:38 p.m.: Once again, Hardy caught Vincent with that uppercut, doing enough to take the round. SN has this one as a draw, but Vincent was the aggressor for a majority of the rounds and we’ll see if the judges side with the Providence, Rhode Island native because of that.
[email protected] lands a strong uppercut in the last round of the fight. pic.twitter.com/WuaX0EPrlN
10:35 p.m.: “The Heat” landed a crunching right uppercut square on Vincent’s chin in the ninth round. Here comes the 10th and final round.
10:28 p.m.: This is a pure firefight. Both Hardy and Vincent are hitting each other with hard leather. During the seventh round, Vincent hit her rival with an inadvertent headbutt, which opened a gash over Hardy’s left eye. Vincent seems to have gotten the better of the exchanges over the past four rounds to own the edge after seven rounds.
10:22 p.m.: Vincent caught Hardy with a clean left hook out of the clinch in the fifth round and landed the same punch later in the frame. Hardy has to look out for it as this match continues. SN has Vincent winning the fourth and fifth rounds.
10:17 p.m.: Vincent mauled Hardy to start the third round, adding intensity to an already-heated fight. But Hardy weathered the opening flurry and caught Vincent with some vicious left and right hooks toward the middle of the round. We have Hardy up 30-27 through three.
10:11 p.m.: This rematch picked up from where the original bout ended — with fireworks. That first round more than showed that Heather Hardy and Shelly Vincent are willing to stand and have heavy exchanges.
10:02 p.m.: The bright lights are on and HBO’s main card is underway with Shelly Vincent and Heather Hardy making their entrances to the ring. Their original bout was an absolute war. What will the rematch present? This one is for the vacant WBO women’s featherweight title.
9:54 p.m.: Prelims are in the books. The main card is about to begin.
Prelim results
David Joyce def. Jorge Zacazontetl via unanimous decision; lightweights
Steven Donnelly def. Antonio Hernandez by unanimous decision; junior middleweights
Bakhodir Jalolov def. Tyrell Wright by corner stoppage after fourth-round; heavyweights
Patrick Day def. Elvin Ayala via unanimous decision; junior middleweights
Radzhab Butaev def. Azael Cosio via corner stoppage after third round; welterweights
Reshat Mati def. Keasen Freeman by unanimous decision; welterweights
8:10 p.m.: Here live at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden, where preliminary action for the Danny Jacobs-Sergiy Derevyanchenko is currently taking place. Before any boxing began, Matchroom Boxing held a press conference announcing Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller vs. Bogdan Dinu as the headliner for a Nov. 17 show in Mulvane, Kansas, live on DAZN. The card will also feature Brandon Rios vs. Roman Alvarez, Claressa Shields vs. Hannah Rankin and Gabe Rosado against Luis Arias.
We are LIVE for the @MatchroomBoxing November 17th Kansas Show Press Conference ? https://t.co/VnTQTDLuYH
- Sergiy Derevyanchenko vs. Daniel Jacobs for vacant IBF middleweight title
- Alberto Machado vs. Yuandale Evans for Machado’s WBA “regular” junior lightweight title
- Heather Hardy vs. Shelly Vincent rematch for vacant WBO women’s featherweight title
- Patrick Day vs. Elvin Ayala; junior middleweights
- Reshat Mati vs. Keasen Freeman; welterweights
- Radzhab Butaev vs. Azael Cosio; welterweights
- Bakhodir Jalolov vs. Tyrell Wright; heavyweights
- Steven Donnelly vs. Antonio Hernandez; junior middleweights
- David Oliver Joyce vs. Jorge Rojas Zacazontetl; lightweights
— Danny Jacobs patiently waits for the spotlight, vows that “it’s going to be my time.”
— Danny Jacobs’ story is more than being “The Miracle Man.”
— Derevyanchenko stands in Jacobs’ way of opening path to Canelo or “GGG.”
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