Sergiy Derevyanchenko vs. Sam Soliman: This week will be a busy one for boxing and the action kicks off on Thursday night on ESPN. That PBC card will have a main event featuring Sergiy Derevyanchenko (8-0, 6 KO) and Sam Soliman (44-13, 18 KO). That fight is scheduled to go 12 rounds and will be an IBF title eliminator in the middleweight division Derevyanchecnko is an orthodox fighter out of Russia with good power. He likes to play the role of aggressor and his best punch may be his overhand right. The left hook of Derevyanchenko is also a good weapon and his jab could be as well but he uses it more as a measuring stick than as a weapon. As for Soliman, he is a veteran without any real power and his best weapon may simply be his awkward style. Soliman is an orthodox fighter who often keeps his hands low, especially his lead hand. He likes to get in and out and he moves well in the ring, although it doesn't always look pretty. The jab and straight right hand of Soliman and both solid and he can frustrate opponents simply with his nervous energy. However, in his last two fights Soliman has gone 0-2 although one of those losses, to Jermain Taylor, was because Soliman badly injured his leg during the fight and without his constant motion he is not a very good fighter. This fight really comes down to the patience of Derevyanchenko. If he lets Soliman get him frustrated he will be for a long night of swinging and missing. Derevyanchecnko needs to take his time and not load up on every punch and if he fights calmly he will win this fight by the way of unanimous decision.
Ievgen Khytrov vs. Paul Mendez: Another foreign fighter with a perfect record will be in the co-feature of PBC's card on ESPN. That fighter is Ievgen Khytrov (13-0, 11 KO) and he will be putting that perfect record on the line against Paul Mendez (19-2-2, 9 KO). Their fight is scheduled to go 10 rounds in the middleweight division. Khytrov is an orthodox fighter who has shown an aggressive style in his young career. The best thing Khytrov has going for him is his power, which he carries in both hands. Khytrov has a stiff jab that he will follow up with heavy left hook. On the inside Khytrov will also let loose with a very good chopping right hand. However, he does have some flaws and the most glaring is the fact that he will often square up to his opponent and that will always leave a fighter vulnerable. Mendez is also an orthodox fighter but he lacks the power that Khytrov has. However, he does box well and always shows a good jab. While Mendez does have two career losses the last of those came in 2011 and he hasn't lost a fight since. On the inside Mendez will also flash a good right hand but he seems to be at his best when he is jabbing from the outside. This fight will be a competitive one and Mendez will give a good account of himself and may even be ahead on the cards at some point. However, eventually the power of Khytrov will wear him down and Khytrov will win this fight with an eighth round stoppage.
Comments
Post a Comment