March 28, 2024

Danny Jacobs(35-2 29kos) defeated Sergiy Derevyanchenko(12-1 10kos) via split decision to win the vacant IBF 160lb Middleweight Title on one of the final installments of HBO Championship Boxing October 27, 2018. The fight took place in the “Hulu Theater” also known as “The Small Room” in Madison Square Garden in New York.

Photo Credit Ed Mullholland

The fight really was a good clash of styles with at times becoming the classic activity and volume style against the power and flashier shots.

The final decision itself was a split decision victory for Jacobs, with the judges scoring the fight 114-113 for Sergiy and the other two judges 115-112 for Jacobs. To be honest that probably was a fair reflection of the fight, with it being an extremely close fight but the knockdown in round one from Jacobs doing just enough to get him over the line. Personally, I scored it 6 rounds to 6 but with the knockdown, I gave the fight to Jacobs.

Despite the loss, Derevyanchenko performed admirably on a stage he hasn’t been to before, and fights against other top 160 pounders would all be competitive fights based on the performance we saw on Saturday night. I would for instance love to see Derevyanchenko against Eubank Jnr, although with Eubank at 168. I doubt that will happen any time soon.

As for Jacobs however, he finally has his hands on a legitimate title, but if he were to face Andrade or Jermall Charlo he would probably come in as a marginal underdog. Though he did scrap out the win in the end, I have to say I was a little disappointed in how easy Jacobs was to hit in the early rounds especially as he backed up tall with little head movement, I’d go as far to say as Jacobs looked uncomfortable with Derevyanchenko’s movement on the inside.

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Photo Credit Ed Mullholland

He relied on his power and hand speed over the 12 and deservedly did get the decision, but even so I wouldn’t put this display on par with the Golovkin loss, but even so taking on four undefeated fighters in a row and arguably beating all four after coming back from cancer and winning a world title maybe I should cut the New Yorker a bit of slack and just watch and see how he mixes in with the best at 160 pounds.

Here’s what Jacob’s had to say at the post fight press conference about facing Charlo, GGG rematch, Andrade, Canelo, & More:

On the undercard Alberto Machado(21-0 17kos) defended his WBA “Regular” Title by defeating YuanDale Evans(20-2 14kos) via brutal 1st round knockout. For more details on whats next for Machado please view video below.

In the opener to the HBO card Heather Hardy(22-0 4kos) defeated Shelly Vincent(23-2 1ko) via unanimous decision to capture the vacant WBO 126lb Title.