Hmm. I scored GGG/Derevyanchenko.

[Combat Talk Radio]

I didn't see a "G is old". I saw something wrong with the man. Certainly the body work did its job, but just in terms of fight style, it's like Banks told Golovkin not to fight his usual stalker style. He looked like he was trying to be a counterpuncher off of Derevyanchenko's aggression. That might have worked for Jacobs, it wasn't going to work for a guy who had never been trained to fight like that.

Before people complain, this really came down to the question: round by round - ROUND BY ROUND, which guy's shots would you NOT want to be taking if you were in there?

I also think, anyone who had Dervyanchenko winning CLEARLY is too easily influenced by ineffective aggression. Here's why.


Sergiy had solid moments in the fight. I was generally impressed with him. But the vast majority of what he threw missed or was deflected. He abandoned the body work because G started to adjust his elbow to deflect those shots, which caused them to go low repeatedly and Harvey MF'n Dock didn't even give a warning. That's why G started getting tagged upstairs because he's not fast enough to block down-up, but Sergiy's upstairs work was not as effective as his downstairs work.

Sergiy's upper body movement was excellent, but defensively that's all he had. If he didn't move he was getting tagged - which (from my eyes) caused him to lose every exchange when both guys threw upstairs or when G threw a check uppercut or hook.

Had Sergiy not gotten dropped, I saw a possible draw, but it's also difficult to tell how the cut and the drop affected him, because he seemed to get less effective after the 6th.

And no, I didn't see this as a 'better' fight than Spence/Porter. With the exception of Round 5, there didn't appear to be any point in the fight where one guy was in jeopardy, but we also answered no questions on who was truly the 'better' fighter. But I give Sergiy credit. He's a tough opponent stylistically, just like Porter.

If I'm Derevyanchenko, I don't do a rematch. It's a waste of him. Put him in there with Charlo. That should be a VERY good style matchup and a real test of both guys.

[Weebler I]

Agree with everything you said.

Would just throw in illness as a possibility as to why Golovkin didn't look himself.

Golovkin has been dominant for so long, people get a little bit giddy and carried away when he faces some adversity.

[BaguMka]

Thanks man for taking time and writing this stuff. Casuals and ggg haters won't change their mind and keep crying about robbery but **** them ******s. Agree with everything u wrote

[CauliflowerEars]

I didn't see a "G is old". I saw something wrong with the man. Certainly the body work did its job, but just in terms of fight style, it's like Banks told Golovkin not to fight his usual stalker style. He looked like he was trying to be a counterpuncher off of Derevyanchenko's aggression. That might have worked for Jacobs, it wasn't going to work for a guy who had never been trained to fight like that.

Before people complain, this really came down to the question: round by round - ROUND BY ROUND, which guy's shots would you NOT want to be taking if you were in there?

I also think, anyone who had Dervyanchenko winning CLEARLY is too easily influenced by ineffective aggression. Here's why.


Sergiy had solid moments in the fight. I was generally impressed with him. But the vast majority of what he threw missed or was deflected. He abandoned the body work because G started to adjust his elbow to deflect those shots, which caused them to go low repeatedly and Harvey MF'n Dock didn't even give a warning. That's why G started getting tagged upstairs because he's not fast enough to block down-up, but Sergiy's upstairs work was not as effective as his downstairs work.

Sergiy's upper body movement was excellent, but defensively that's all he had. If he didn't move he was getting tagged - which (from my eyes) caused him to lose every exchange when both guys threw upstairs or when G threw a check uppercut or hook.

Had Sergiy not gotten dropped, I saw a possible draw, but it's also difficult to tell how the cut and the drop affected him, because he seemed to get less effective after the 6th.

And no, I didn't see this as a 'better' fight than Spence/Porter. With the exception of Round 5, there didn't appear to be any point in the fight where one guy was in jeopardy, but we also answered no questions on who was truly the 'better' fighter. But I give Sergiy credit. He's a tough opponent stylistically, just like Porter.

If I'm Derevyanchenko, I don't do a rematch. It's a waste of him. Put him in there with Charlo. That should be a VERY good style matchup and a real test of both guys.

Terrific observations and break down.

[Combat Talk Radio]

I have ZERO problems with people saying that Sergiy won a CLOSE fight that could have gone either way.

I'm not agreeing with this narrative that Sergiy "clearly" won. Because he didn't.

People just expected G to blow the guy out because G is and always has been an 'eye test' fighter, who has now failed that test. Which is why you don't do the 'eye test'. He had to perform, and had he fought the right style this night, he might have won it more definitively.

[Nash out]

I didn't see a "G is old". I saw something wrong with the man. Certainly the body work did its job, but just in terms of fight style, it's like Banks told Golovkin not to fight his usual stalker style. He looked like he was trying to be a counterpuncher off of Derevyanchenko's aggression. That might have worked for Jacobs, it wasn't going to work for a guy who had never been trained to fight like that.

Before people complain, this really came down to the question: round by round - ROUND BY ROUND, which guy's shots would you NOT want to be taking if you were in there?

I also think, anyone who had Dervyanchenko winning CLEARLY is too easily influenced by ineffective aggression. Here's why.


Sergiy had solid moments in the fight. I was generally impressed with him. But the vast majority of what he threw missed or was deflected. He abandoned the body work because G started to adjust his elbow to deflect those shots, which caused them to go low repeatedly and Harvey MF'n Dock didn't even give a warning. That's why G started getting tagged upstairs because he's not fast enough to block down-up, but Sergiy's upstairs work was not as effective as his downstairs work.

Sergiy's upper body movement was excellent, but defensively that's all he had. If he didn't move he was getting tagged - which (from my eyes) caused him to lose every exchange when both guys threw upstairs or when G threw a check uppercut or hook.

Had Sergiy not gotten dropped, I saw a possible draw, but it's also difficult to tell how the cut and the drop affected him, because he seemed to get less effective after the 6th.

And no, I didn't see this as a 'better' fight than Spence/Porter. With the exception of Round 5, there didn't appear to be any point in the fight where one guy was in jeopardy, but we also answered no questions on who was truly the 'better' fighter. But I give Sergiy credit. He's a tough opponent stylistically, just like Porter.

If I'm Derevyanchenko, I don't do a rematch. It's a waste of him. Put him in there with Charlo. That should be a VERY good style matchup and a real test of both guys.

I had it the same score 114-113 GGG. I was a bit puzzled by the way he fought too. Not his usual work behind a hammer jab (which he underused massively) Bank's instructions maybe? And he didn't try to cut off space or corner his man to unload on him like he does at his best.

I'm thinking Banks is trying to mould GGG into something he is not. Golovkin needs to go back to what made him great and feared, sure he's older and a bit past prime, but he can still beat anyone in my opinion. I hope Canelo is next though, the longer it goes, the older he gets and less chance he has. Great fight, just below Spence vs Porter.

I actually think there's some ego at play by Banks here. If Golovkin keeps winning under him by fighting his old way, nobody will credit Banks, but if he's winning and looking different, then Banks can take credit. He did look different, he did win (very close) but he did look far worse than usual.

At 37, he should not be changing his style, especially when you factor in what Golovkin's strengths are. Great breakdown. I always appreciate people who put time and effort into their posts.

[Nicamex]

I love this post. Thank you sir

[Sweet Scions]

While I appreciate you taking the time to flesh out your take so articulately, go ahead and throw me in the "too easily won over by ineffective aggression" bin I suppose, as I had Sergiy winning this comfortably--by a wider margin than seemingly most others who also gave the nod to Derev--and didn't see Golovkin edging a close fight but rather clearly losing a disappointingly one sided affair. Suffice to say I didn't see a great deal or most of Sergiy's aggression as ineffectual, or anything close to "most" of what he threw being blocked or deflected, though some of it certainly was. I do absolutely account for the possibility something was simply off for Golovkin though, and certainly haven't taken this performance as a definitive indicator of a hard drop off. Points as always though for crafting your argument in an intelligent and respectful manner regardless of the points where my view diverges, and I'm definitely keen to reexamine this again at first opportunity...probably tomorrow at the earliest unfortunately.

[Combat Talk Radio]

While I appreciate you taking the time to flesh out your take so articulately, go ahead and throw me in the "too easily won over by ineffective aggression" bin I suppose, as I had Sergiy winning this comfortably--by a wider margin than seemingly most others who also gave the nod to Derev--and didn't see Golovkin edging a close fight but rather clearly losing a disappointingly one sided affair. Suffice to say I didn't see a great deal or most of Sergiy's aggression as ineffectual, or anything close to "most" of what he threw being blocked or deflected, though some of it certainly was. I do absolutely account for the possibility something was simply off for Golovkin though, and certainly haven't taken this performance as a definitive indicator of a hard drop off. Points as always though for crafting your argument in an intelligent and respectful manner regardless of the points where my view diverges, and I'm definitely keen to reexamine this again at first opportunity...probably tomorrow at the earliest unfortunately.

Thanks.

I can tell you this. It was VERY easy to be swayed by both the crowd and the commentary, especially the commentary. I'm speaking for myself too. Crowd roared when Derevyanchenko threw six punches where one landed clean, they kept commenting on things that were not effective as if they were, and it wasn't until Round 6 on that they started talking about what Golovkin was doing with the check shots.

The other thing I'll note, again, if you watch it back, put yourself in the ring. Ask yourself: regardless of activity, which guy would you NOT want to be?

It's very easy to say Golovkin due to the body work, but that only lasted the first half of the fight. Second half there wasn't hardly any. Besides that, you saw a lot of fancy foot work and basic shots upstairs that didn't hardly bother Golovkin, then you saw G step in and throw a brutal check hook, body shot or check uppercut, then step out to avoid a winging haymaker.

Neither guy won the fight CLEARLY. That's all I'm saying.

[Simurgh]

Very nice analysis and valid points. Green sent!