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Mbilli vs. Derevyanchenko
Mbilli scores a wide unanimous decision over Derevyanchenko in a fight where an injury to the left arm proves too big a handicap for the Ukrainian.
In his usual fashion Mbilli was taking the fight to Derevyanchenko from the opening bell forcing his opponent to box on the back foot.
In the third with Derevyanchenko not really loading up on his punches Mbilli was able to stride forward connecting with hooks and uppercuts. Derevyanchenko was already showing bruising under his right eye but as he walked back to his corner he was indicating he had injured his left bicep. Since his jab had been his main tool Derevyanchenko was severely handicapped.
He did use the left in the fourth but sparingly and without much snap and he was having difficulty getting leverage when throwing his right where he would normally use his left. He did not turn southpaw so he was throwing his right jab with his left foot forward. The change in Derevyanchenko’s approach seemed to confuse Mbilli.
Mbilli continued to chase Derevyanchenko down over the last three rounds with Derevyanchenko circling the perimeter of the ring fighting in short bursts but just really trying to survive. The referee had a close look at the action a couple of times in the last but had no reason to stop the fight. Mbilli won on scores of 100-90, 99-91 and 98-92. In a way both were losers. Derevyanchenko lost the decision and because of the injury it left him severely handicapped and it stole some of the gloss that would have come if Mbilli had beaten him fully functioning.
Vianello vs. Makhmudov
Vianello gets a big win as Makhmudov is pulled out of the fight by the doctor at the start of the eighth round due to a swelling which had effectively closed his eye since the fourth round.
From the start of the first round, it was clear that Vianello was too quick for the ponderous Makhmudov.
By the third there was a dangerous looking swelling under Makhmudov’s left eye and accurate shots from Vianello were worsening the problem. The fourth saw Vianello doing what effective work there was. He was aware of the handicap Makhmudov was fighting under with his left eye closed and he was doing most of his scoring with rights which Makhmudov could not see coming.
The ringside doctor examined Makhmudov at the star of the fifth but let the fight continue. Makhmudov was checked again in the sixth but allowed to fight on despite his severely restricted vision and again in the seventh with Vianello continuing to take the fight to Makhmudov and doing all of the scoring. The doctor and the referee consulted after the end of the seventh but they did not signal the fight over. However, when the bell went to start the eighth as the boxers left their corners yet another examination saw the fight stopped.
The closure of Makhmudov’s left eye decided the outcome but Vianello’s performance made up for a close split decision loss against Efe Ajagba in April. Second inside the distance loss in his last three fights for Makhmudov and all of his limitations were on show here.
Bentley (R) showed his power for the second consecutive fight
Bentley vs. Osaze
Bentley scores dramatic second round win over Osaze.
There was some good action from the start with Osaze coming forward putting Bentley under pressure with Bentley jabbing well and throwing some crisp counters.
Osaze upped the pressure in the second and looked dangerous with some overhand rights. As Osaze moved in again Bentley connected with a fearsome right uppercut. Osaze stopped in his tracks and then pitched forward face down on the canvas and the referee quickly waived the fight over. Bentley was defending the WBO International Middlewight title and now has 17 wins by KO/TKO. Fellow-Londoner Osaze had lost on points against Tyler Denny in June 2021 and this was only his fourth fight in the last three years. Despite a loss against Nathan Healey in November Bentley is ranked number two with the WBO. Osaze looked useful and hopefully will be more active.
Fight of the week: (Significance): Christian Mbilli’s win over Sergiy Derevyanchenko puts Mbilli in line for a title shot next year.
Fight of the week: (Entertainment): Unbeaten Ben Frail and Panamanian Omir Rodriguez staged a small hall classic war at the legendary York Hall.
Fighter of the week: Guido Vianello for rebounding from a disputed loss against Efe Ajagba with his win over Arslanbek Makhmudov.
Punch of the week: Denzel Bentley’s right hook that knocked out Derrick Osaze was chilling
Upset of the week: None
Prospect watch: Canadian super middleweight Wilkens Mathieu, 19, is 10-0 with six wins by KO/TKO and looking good.
Observations
Rosette: Jointly to Eye of the Tiger Promotions and Top Rank for the only big show of the week
Red Card: No real baddies this week
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