I think we will have a great fight, maybe the Fight of the Year – Christian Mbilli
Unbeaten, Montreal-based contender Christian Mbilli (27-0, 23 KOs) will take on three-time world title challenger Sergiy Derevyanchenko (15-5, 10 KOs) in the 10-round main event this Saturday, Aug. 17, at Videotron Centre in Quebec City, Canada.
In the 10-round heavyweight co-feature, Arslanbek Makhmudov (19-1, 18 KOs) and Guido Vianello (12-2-1, 10 KOs) will lock horns in a battle of heavy-hitting contenders.
Mbilli-Derevyanchenko and Makhmudov-Vianello will be broadcast live in the U.S. on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.
Undercard action, streaming exclusively on ESPN+, begins at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT and features the return of undefeated southpaw phenom Abdullah Mason (14-0, 12 KOs). The Cleveland native will take on Mike Ohan Jr. (19-2, 9 KOs) in an eight-round lightweight tilt.
Also making his Canadian debut is New York-based middleweight Jahi Tucker (11-1-1, 5 KOs), who will face Santiago Fernandez (8-1-1, 4 KOs) in an eight-rounder.
Promoted by Top Rank and Eye of the Tiger, tickets are on sale via Ticketmaster.
This is what the fighters had to say at Thursday’s press conference.
Christian Mbilli
“I hope this opportunity is the final step towards a world title. I think we will have a great fight, maybe the Fight of the Year. I’m very happy to be here in Quebec City. We have a lot of boxing fans here. And it’s going to be a great fight.”
“I want to show that I’m the best. I want to show that I’m the real monster. We’re going to see who has the best conditioning. We’re going to see who has the best boxing. For me, it will be no surprise because I’m the best.”
“I don’t know {if this fight goes 10 rounds}. But I know that if he gives me any opportunity to knock him out, I will knock him out.”
Sergiy Derevyanchenko
“Every fight that I’ve had has helped me get this opportunity. I’m ready for an aggressive fight. I’ve seen him fight. He is strong. He is aggressive. But I’m ready.”
“As soon as I heard about this fight, I decided I was going to sign to fight him because this is the number one guy.”
“My experience is an advantage. It has helped me. And we will see what
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