Jermall Charlo defeats Sergiy Derevyanchenko in grueling 12-rounder

WBC middleweight champion Jermall Charlo (31-0, 22 KOs) earned a unanimous decision over super tough Sergiy Derevyanchenko (13-3. 10 KOs) at Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut in Saturday night.

The scores were 116-112, 117-111, and 118-110.

The fight got off to a tentative start. The much taller Charlo fired fast jabs while Derevyanchenko studied him. Derevyanchenko, faster than he looks, flashed a combination. Derevyanchenko connected with a left hook in round two. Charlo,30, returned the favor a few seconds later. Charlo worked in a left uppercut and right hand. He pumped his jab while Derevyanchenko stayed low – trying to time Charlo.

In round three, Derevyanchenko,34, clubbed Charlo with a right. Charlo scored with jabs. A left hook also landed. A big right wobbled Derevyanchenko. He came close to going down. Charlo dug to the body in round four. He was beating Derevyanchenko up. Charlo moved forward confidently. Derevyanchenko landed a solid right.

The gutsy Derevyanchenko came out aggressively in round five. He threw punches, but didn’t land. Charlo fired jabs. Derevyanchenko took three shots to get inside. He went to the body. Charlo fired an uppercut.

Told to stop head hunting by his corner, Derevyanchenko went downstairs in round six. He moved his offense up and landed more shots to the face. Charlo jabbed and absorbed. Charlo pounded Derevyanchenko with a double hook in round seven. Derevyanchenko was bleeding from a cut hear his right eye. Crimson was also leaking from his left lobe. He fought back with a hard hook to the chin. Charlo connected with a solid jab to the belly.

Charlo got off first in round eight. He landed a solid right. Derevyanchenko rallied back with a flurry of blows. A number connected though none of them seemed to bother Charlo. Charlo hurt Derevyanchenko with shot to the chin near the end of the stanza.

Derevyanchenko somehow bounced on his toes in round nine. He wasn’t done yet. Charlo softened him up with more stiff jabs and an uppercut. Derevyanchenko connected with a left hook. The never-say-die Derevyanchenko fired combinations in round 10. Charlo stayed in the pocked and rumbled. Derevyanchenko, with both eyes virtually swollen shut, absorbed more blows and fired back.

With two rounds to go in the contest, Charlo had to be ahead on the judges scorecards. Derevyanchenko’s late rally had made the bout slightly closer, but not really. Charlo had slowed down, but his jab was still landing. Derevyanchenko cuffed Charlo with a left hook. Charlo landed a long right.

Both men were tired as the 12^th round began. Derevyanchenko was told by his corner he needed the round. Charlo connected with a chopping right hand. Derevyanchenko landed two right hands. He worked on the inside, appearing to stun Charlo. The champion punched back—hurting Derevyanchenko at the bell.