Mbilli Looks to Impress Against Derevyanchenko in Significant Step-up Fight
Camille Estephan, the promoter of super-middleweight contender Christian Mbilli, is hopeful that his fighter will impress at Quebec’s Videotron Center on August 17. Mbilli, who boasts an undefeated record of 27-0 with 23 knockouts, is set to face world-class Ukrainian veteran Sergiy Derevyanchenko in a significant step-up fight.
Estephan believes that Mbilli has not yet shown his full potential and believes that a standout performance against the respected Derevyanchenko, who has faced a number of top fighters in the division, will put the pressure on the division’s big names to fight him. Derevyanchenko has 10 stoppage wins in his 15 victories, with his past eight opponents including the likes of Danny Jacobs, Gennady Golovkin, and Jaime Munguia.
“If the winner of the Mbilli-Derevyanchenko fight, especially if it’s a fight where he [Mbilli] can deliver what we know he has, people will be clamouring for that fight against Canelo [Alvarez],” Estephan said. “People will want him [Canelo] to fight him [the winner].”
The same promotion in Quebec will also feature an intriguing heavyweight clash between Guido Vianello and Arslanbek Makhmudov, two hard-hitting fringe contenders. Estephan believes the winner of this bout will have a significant opportunity to get back into the mix of the active heavyweight scene.
Additionally, the event will showcase Top Rank’s lightweight prospect Abdullah Mason and the highly-rated Dzmitry Asanau, a two-time Olympian promoted by Estephan’s Eye of the Tiger organization. However, the potential show-stealer could be the undefeated 11-0 (10 KOs) Cuban talent Osleys Iglesias, who Estephan believes is one of the top five super middleweights in the world.
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