The numbers clearly favored Christian Mbilli (28-0, 23 KOs) on Saturday at the Centre Videotron in Quebec City, Canada, in his 10-round super middleweight battle with Sergiy Derevyanchenko (15-6, 10 KOs) – as did the officials and their scorecards. But none of it reflected the toughness of Derevyanchenko, who fought through a biceps tear to make a competitive fight and finish on his feet.
In the end, the difference in firepower was too great, as Mbilli (193) landed 80 more power punches over the course of the fight than Derevyanchenko (113). Although Derevyanchenko outlanded Mbilli 18-17 in the third round and had his best statistical round in the fourth (when he outlanded Mbilli 20-17), the biceps injury also occurred in Round 4, essentially turning Derevyanchenko into a one-armed fighter.
Mbilli landed more shots in every subsequent round, never by fewer than eight punches – and by as many as 18, when Mbilli unloaded in the 10th and final round.