By Geno McGahee
Daniel Jacobs, 35-2, 29 KO’s, survived a tough fight with challenger, Sergiy Derevyanchenko, 12-1, 10 KO’s, taking a split decision win by scores of 115-112 (twice) and 113-114. Jacobs came out early and got Derevyanchenko against the ropes and landing a right hook high on the head and dropping him. Derevyanchenko would come back in the second round and land some hard shots and that set the tone for the rest of the fight as both men traded shots down the stretch.
Jacobs rocked Derevyanchenko a lot in the right, landing the harder shots, but the consistency came from the challenger. The continued aggression from Derevyanchenko gave Jacobs opportunities to unload his bigger shots.
In the end, it seemed that Jacobs had more than enough to take the win home, but this is boxing and it came out as a split decision in favor of the middleweight champion. Jacobs can now move on to bigger fights, including a potential bout with the prize, Canelo Alvarez.
