Sergiy Derevyanchenko became only the second man ever to stop former World Champion Sam Soliman yesterday.
The middleweight fight was initially delayed as the authorises ordered the Aussie Soliman to rewrap his hands. The length of tape used was deemed too long and this resulted in the ‘King’ only getting 10 minutes to warm up.
Soliman started in his usual awkward way, picking off some nice shots and looking for the right lead uppercut. Sergiy was ready and was not awed by the movement of the 42-year-old veteran.
Derevyancheko had a plan and he executed it well.
He knew Soliman would come forward and when he did – the Ukranian unleashed. He looked to catch the Aussie on the way out and on the way in.
The technician stayed solid and after some subtle footwork caught his opponent with a laser-straight right with 30 seconds left in the first.
Sam went down but didn’t look hurt.
The fight was stopped after 2 minutes and 41 seconds of round 2 however, as the Ukranian caught Soliman with a flush left hook.
It was the 3rd knockdown of the fight. After 517 rounds, the longest active professional fighter in the world Sam Soliman was not getting up.
Derevyachenko has got the division’s attention now, that much is certain.
The New York-based fighter becomes only the 2nd man to stop the Soliman inside the distance and looks set for big things in the middleweight division and judging on his power and ability, could very well be knocking at the door of Gennady Golovkin in a couple of years time.
Middleweight kingpin Golovkin next faces Kell Brook on September 10th.
(Image source and credit: Flicker)
The post Sergiy Derevyanchenko Could Be A Future Contender For Golovkin appeared first on %%Boxing News and Views/%%.
