Teddy Atlas picks Sergiy Derevyanchenko to defeat undefeated, hard-hitting Christian Mbilli in their rematch this Saturday night on ESPN at the Videotron Center in Quebec City, Canada.
Derevyanchenko's Experience is a Key Factor
Atlas feels that 2008 Olympian Derevyanchenko (15-5, 10 KOs) has more experience than #1 WBC and #2 WBA ranked Mbilli (27-0, 23 KOs) .
29-year-old Billi was born in Cameroon and moved to France in 2006. Like Edgar Berlanga, his promoters have matched him carefully without giving him a test so far.
When you see things like this, it's red flag that the striker is flawed because the promoters wouldn't intentionally hold an Olympian until he pushes 30 before promoting him.
Mbilli's injury to Rohan Murdock last January was a sign that he is not the striker the fans thought he was, which explains why his promoters have kept him under-performing throughout his career.
Derevyanchenko is already fighting these talented fighters to gain experience after competing at the Olympics in Ukraine:
– Gennady Golovkin
– Jermall Charlo
– Jaime Munguia
– Carlos Adames
Does Derevyanchenko have enough?
“He had a lot of tough fights. I think he might have beaten GGG,” said Teddy Atlas on his YouTube channel, discussing Sergiy Derevyanchenko's fight against Gennadiy Golovkin in October 2019. “I like GGG, but he might have beaten him.”
Many fans felt that Derevyanchenko deserved to win against Golovkin because he was knocked down, but he could have stayed upright because the referee picked him up when he fell. Derevyanchenko continued to beat GGG and schooled him for the rest of the fight but ended up losing on the scorecards against the favored fighter.
“You are 38 years old, Derevyanchenko. Here's what it comes down to. What do you have left?” Atlas said. “I don't know. Is she dressed a little? [against Rohan Murdock]but even more because Derevyanchenko is a better fighter than the one who tested him.”
Derevyanchenko's performance against Jaime Munguia last June showed that he has plenty left in the tank. He fought hard enough to win.
The fight was decided when Derevyanchenko was knocked out in the twelfth round by Mungunia's body shot, but he still fought well enough to earn the victory. The judges went with the younger fighter, Munguia, and it's understandable why. He had a big money fight against Canelo Alvarez in danger.
“He [Derevyanchenko] better than that; you are more than capable,” said Atlas. “Derevyanchenko is not a man who punches, but he does not stop punching. You are a drilling machine. Billi is a drill. That's why I say you should watch this.”
Derevyanchenko is a technical fighter with skills that almost any super middleweight would die for, including Canelo. His nickname, 'The Technician,' is for a reason. He is incredibly gifted, and has not shown his age like other fighters, which is due to his technical ability.
Atlas Prediction: Derevyanchenko Wins
“It must be a steep climb. From Quebec, Canada; it's a home game Mbilli. I'll take the picture that he doesn't get shot, Derevyanchenko. I will take the gun that he is not used to anymore, that he has survived enough that Mbilli will throw at him, he will throw at him a lot,” said Atlas.
Billi will go after Derevyanchenko and try to knock him out with non-stop punches like he has done with all the lower level fighters his managers have matched him with during his reign as champion. He can pay the price if he fights Derevyanchenko like that because he will counter and work him with hooks and body shots.
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