Gennady Golovkin after his hard-fought win over Sergiy Derevyanchenko (Photo: Matchroom Boxing)
By Chris Robinson
Gennady Golovkin found a way to overcome a determined Sergiy Derevyanchenko in a thrilling battle on Saturday night. The fight was for the vacant IBF and IBO middleweight titles, from Madison Square Garden in New York, with DAZN televising in the US and Sky Sports in the UK.
Golovkin and Derevyanchenko shared 12 brutal and memorable rounds with one another in what has to be considered one of the top fights of 2019. After scoring a knockdown in the first, Golovkin had to weather a fierce rally from Derevyanchenko for several rounds after, taking some punishing body and head shots along the way.
Scores of 114-113 and 115-112 twice went in Golovkin’s favor, as the 37-year old is a champion again.
“I want to say thank you so much to my opponent,” said Golovkin post-fight. “This was a great job. I respect his team. I told you, he’s a very tough guy. This is huge experience for me. Right now, I understand I need more. Focus is boxing. This was a tough fight. I need a little bit more. I need to still get stronger in my camp. Just more serious. I need to work hard. I need a little bit more focus.”
Golovkin did admit that he felt off for this fight.
“Right now it’s bad day for me, it’s a huge day for Sergiy, his team,” said Golovkin. “This is huge experience for me. Right now I know what I need exactly. I lost a little bit of focus. Sergiy was ready, I really respect him. He showed me such a big heart. I told him, Sergiy, this is best fight for me. It’s a huge experience. It’s maximum destroy. I just respect his team.”
Derevychanchenko, who suffered a severe cut in the second round, never stopped coming forward. The 33-year old gave his view of the fight.
“The cut really changed the fight,” he stated. “I couldn’t see at times. And he was targeting the eye. But no excuses, it is what it is, I was trying my best. When I started moving, I felt like I was giving him room and I was getting hit with those shots that he threw and that’s why I started taking the fight to him and getting closer and not giving him room to maneuver.”
Derevyanchenko also says that he wasn’t affected by the knockdown he suffered.
“He hit me in the back of the head,” Derevyanchenko said. “He hit me behind the ear. I didn’t really see the punch but it didn’t really affect me that much. I got up and I wasn’t really hurt so I continued to fight, so it was nothing, nothing too bad.”
What now for Golovkin? He noted that he’s open to a rematch of Saturday’s fight, as well as a third fight with Canelo Alvarez. He does appear to have lost a step or two, but surely he will be in line for some big fights ahead.
Chris Robinson can be reached at CRobinson@hustleboss.com