DiBella Entertainment and Matchroom Boxing over HBO brought three world title fights to Madison Square Garden’s Hulu Theater Saturday night featuring Brooklyn boxers in each bout.
In the Main Event former WBA World Middleweight Champion now ranked No. 3 Danny “Miracle Man” Jacobs, 35-2 (29), of Brooklyn, NY, won a split decision over No. 1 ranked Ukranian Sergiy “The Technician” Derevyanchenko, 12-1 (10), of Brooklyn, NY, for the vacant IBF World Middleweight Title, over 12 rounds.
“I knew he was gasping after the fifth round knowing him well. He is as tough as it gets. He’s tougher than nails. He worked the body well tonight but I had plenty in the tank tonight. I want to go after the champions,” said Jacobs.
In the first round it took close to a minute before a punch was thrown. On the first clinch Derevyanchenko pushed Jacobs who was quite upset. A roundhouse right from Jacobs to the head dropped Derevyanchenko but it took so long for referee Charley Fitch to come in Jacobs hit Derevyanchenko again as he got right up. In the second round a left hook followed up by a right hurt Jacobs who went backwards and quickly moved around the ring as Derevyanchenko chased him. In the third round Jacobs landed a double left hook to the chin of Derevyanchenko. Seconds later Jacobs switched to southpaw for half a minute before returning to orthodox. Jacobs used an effective long jab against the shorter Derevyanchenko. In the fourth round Derevyanchenko landed a solid right to the head of Jacobs. Derevyanchenko continued to be the aggressor landing a good right to the head of Jacobs who countered with a right to the ear hurting Derevyanchenko just prior to the bell.
In the fifth round Derevyanchenko landed several left hooks to the body of Jacobs bothering him. Derevyanchenko did good body work throughout the round. In the sixth round Derevyanchenko led off with a right to the body of Jacobs. A right and left uppercut to the body by Jacobs hurt Derevyanchenko who came back with a right to the chin of Jacobs. Derevyanchenko hurt Jacobs with a pair of rights to the head. Jacobs landed a pair of left hooks to the body and chin of Derevyanchenko just prior to the bell.
In the seventh round Derevyanchenko continued to chase Jacobs who switched from southpaw to orthodox. Having sparred over 300 rounds against one another in the past they knew each other well. Jacobs seemed the fresher of the two. Both went to the body in an exchange of punches. In the eighth round Jacobs landed a pair of uppercuts to the body having Derevyanchenko grasping for air. Jacobs countered well throughout the round as Derevyanchenko kept coming forward. A Jacobs left uppercut to the throat had Derevyanchenko’s mouth wide open.
In the ninth round Jacobs landed to the body and head of Derevyanchenko. Referee Fitch wisely warned Derevyanchenko for using a straight arm. Jacobs continued using his jab well against the shorter Derevyanchenko. In the tenth round Jacobs landed several good body shots until he got caught with a left hook from Derevyanchenko on the chin. Jacobs landed a chopping left out of southpaw to the head of Derevyanchenko. Jacobs hurt Derevyanchenko with a straight right to the chin. It was a close round that could have gone either way.
In the eleventh round Derevyanchenko kept coming forward. Jacobs took to pushing Derevyanchenko into a corner with right hands to the head. It was a good round for Jacobs. In the twelfth and final round Derevyanchenko landed a solid right to the head of Jacobs. Derevyanchenko missed a left hook and got countered with a Jacobs right to the chin. Derevychenko landed a right to the chin of Jacobs backing him against the ropes. Jacobs landed a solid right uppercut to the mid-section of Derevychenko. Derevychenko was trying to pull it out knowing he was behind with rights to the head of Jacobs as both finished up throwing punches.
Scoring was Julie Lederman 114-113 Derevychenko while Steve Weisfeld and Tom Schreck had it 115-112 for Jacobs while this writer had it 116-111 Jacobs.
In the co-feature WBA World Super Featherweight Champion southpaw Alberto “El Explosivo” Mercado, 21-0 (17), of San Juan, PR, knocked out No. 9 ranked southpaw Yuandale “Money Shot” Evans, 20-2 (14), of Cleveland, OH, at 2:25 of the first round.
In the first round a solid left from Mercado on the chin of Evans and down he went. He beat the count of referee Ricky Gonzalez. Evans came back fighting but walked into a right hook to the chin hurting him. Machado landed a pair of lefts and down Evans went again. He was up almost immediately but Mercado jumped on him and put him down on his back for the count with a flurry of punches.
“I want to thank all my Puerto Rico friends. I knew I had the power to hurt him. It’s a great honor to represent my manager Miguel Cotto. I would like to fight champion Miguel Berchelt and make it a Puerto Rico verse Mexico title fight,” said Mercado.
In a re-match Heather “The Heat” Hardy, 22-0 (4), of Brooklyn, NY, defeated Shelly “Shellito’s Way” Vincent, 23-2 (1), of Providence, RI, for the vacant WBO World Female Featherweight Title, over 10 action packed rounds.
In the first round there was no feeling out with both throwing bombs. The taller Hardy got the best of the round but Vincent was right in there matching her punch for punch. In the second round Vincent used her left hook well. Hardy used a good jab landing a follow-up right mostly to the body of Vincent.
In the third round Hardy landed her right well. Vincent would come in low throwing punches as Hardy would slip away from her. Hardy was cut on the outside of her right eye brow. In the fourth round Vincent landed a good right to the body of Hardy. Hardy landed a right and was countered by a left hook from Vincent to the body of Hardy. In the fifth round Vincent attacked the body of Hardy who countered with a right to the chin. Hardy landed a double jab and Vincent countered with a left hook to the chin of Hardy. Hardy missed with a right but followed with a left hook to the chin of Vincent.
In the sixth round Hardy landed a lead solid right to the body of Vincent. Hardy landed a good left hook to the chin of Vincent. Vincent came back with a combination to the head of Hardy. In the seventh round Hardy was cut on the left eyebrow from an accidental head butt. In the eighth round Vincent landed a solid right to the chin of Hardy. Vincent landed a good left hook to the body of Hardy. Vincent walked into a right to the chin from Hardy.
In the ninth round Hardy landed a lead right to the chin of Vincent. Hardy landed a solid fight uppercut to the chin of Vincent. Vincent worked the body but Hardy’s right hands added up. In the tenth and final round Hardy used a good jab and side stepped Vincent when she came in low. It was an action packed fight. The referee was Harvey Dock.
Scores were Feldman and Morgan 97-93 and Rubenstein 99-91. This writer had it 97-93.