Canelo, Derevyanchenko in talks for bout
It seems that Canelo Alvarez isn’t taking as much time off as we all had thought in looking for his next opponent.
The multiple titleholder Alvarez (52-1-2, 35 KOs) in a report from Dan Rafael of ESPN is in talks with mandatory IBF challenger Sergey Derevyanchenko.
In the report from ESPN, the initially scheduled purse bid set for noon ET on Tuesday at the IBF offices in Springfield, New Jersey, has been postponed until this Friday. The delay is so both for Golden Boy Promotions for Alvarez and Derevyanchenko’s promoter Lou DiBella respectively, are engaged in serious talks and finalizing a deal in sources told ESPN close to the negotiations.
Per sources, Tuesday's purse bid was canceled as Canelo close to deal for mandatory defense vs. Derevyanchenko. My story: https://t.co/WL610K5vL2 #boxing @GoldenBoyBoxing @loudibella @DAZN_USA
— Dan Rafael (@danrafaelespn) July 23, 2019
Keep in mind that if the talks between both sides do fall thru, Alvarez would be stripped of the IBF title he had won against Daniel Jacobs back in May. Derevyanchenko (13-1, 10 KOs) in the lone defeat of his career was to the hand of the same Jacobs last October for at the time the vacant IBF title. This match will be another shot at the IBF title as he won a unanimous decision against Jack Culcay in April to become the IBF’s mandatory challenger again. Originally The Atheltic’s Mike Coppinger as far back as last Wednesday stated that the sides had never talked.
Sergey Derevyanchenko advisor Keith Connolly tells @TheAthleticBOX he’s “disappointed Sergey will not be fighting Canelo for the IBF belt in September but it doesn’t surprise me. They never contacted us so I know they never had any intention of doing the fight. …” (continued)
— Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) July 17, 2019
Another thing of note is it also keeps the number three ranked contender in the IBF, and rival Gennadiy “GGG” Golovkin away from the possibility of capturing the belt had Alvarez been stripped of it.
The news for Alvarez taking on Derevyanchenko is exciting as he originally announced last week in a press release that he was not going to fight in September. In the statement, Alvarez stated, “As a world champion in multiple weight classes, I also have the responsibility of delivering the most exciting and competitive fights possible.”
If this deal is finalized between the two sides, the contest per the ESPN report would be slated to take place in the fourth quarter of this year.
Marquis Johns is a unknown humorist and avid boxing fan. His love for the sweet science goes back to when matches were 15 rounds and has been covering fights since closed-circuit pay-per-views. Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth is not only a quote by Mike Tyson, it's also a pretty good reminder to keep your guard up.
