Daniel Jacobs vs. Sergey Vyacheslavovich Derevyanchenko

Tears do make good BJ **** (or so 'they'...say...)

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Ah, well, which Smith it is affects my stance on the match-up approximately zero percent. Equally easy work for Bivol.

 

Say whaaaaat? You think Glass Joe of all people is the one to halt Bivol's rise?

This is going to be the most savage skill-disparity schooling since DLH vs. Gatti, or longer.

 

I'll agree that Derevyanchenko is fluid & composed enough to put the squeeze on Jacobs and ruffle his feathers with quick accurate combos in any terrain, no matter the range or whether moving backward or forward...and he does have a stronger right hand than Sulęcki, who landed the punch with alarming frequency on Danny - but, I don't think he's punching (in terms of precise location or power) on the level of everybody's favorite mythical h2h bogeyman Pirog...and there were moments where Tureano Johnson (nowhere close to DJ's equal in speed or power) was able to force the Ukrainian to clinch by simply trusting in his own chin & letting the shots fly. Of course, whether or not Jacobs has as much confidence as the Bahamian (or as much right to be) is a valid question..

 

Gotta say I'm kind of hoping that Hardy vs. Vincent II makes it onto the broadcast, either as the co-main event (what does HBO have to lose at this point, showcasing a woman's fight? Ratings??? ) or as part of a triple-header.

I honestly don't find Machado vs. Evans that intriguing. "Money Shot" is almost certainly getting KTFO early, period. Unless the Puerto Rican turns out to be an even glassier cannon, this one is written in the stars.

The women's rematch is a really intriguing one. "The Heat" is probably one of the most enduringly popular female fighters to never win a major org world title, and Vincent was her biggest ever step up - while Hardy was in turn her only pro defeat (via bitterly close and controversial majority decision). Their last encounter was an underrated barnburner and the rematch features higher stakes. Given their low KO rates, this is a guaranteed 20 minutes of war, which should set the right kind of mood for the perhaps more tactical (but still likely to have moments of violence & drama) main event.

 

It would take a lot to kayo Bivol - and I thought we both were in agreement that really the only man for the job at the weight is Kovalev? (or maybe Gvozdyk, slim outside chance - but not Beterbiev, as he simply isn't skilled enough to connect the big one against Bivol. And say what you will about his ring IQ in the pros, Beterbiev is still way more dangerous than Joe freaking Smith...)

Was I hallucinating us having already broken down those match-ups together?


Anyway, he might have a puncher's chance, and I suppose Takeshi Inoue could always cut Munguia with a headbutt early and squeak off with a TD4/5 if the Mexican had a slower than usual start - but either way, those would be pretty mindblowing upsets IMO.

Jacobs vs. Derevyanchenko on the other hand is a fascinating summit of two evenly matched elites at middleweight who both have a chance of (starting with a win here) going on to be "the man" once GGG retires.

This if anything is the most deserving swansong on the horizon for HBO. The rest of the mooted cards all have grave disappointing mismatch potential.

 

Dope. GUERRA MAMI, SHELITO'S WAY!

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Poll is at 9-8-1 (4) in favor of DJ.

I've yet to vote...