Carlos Adames defeated Sergiy Derevyanchenko by a majority decision Saturday in Los Angeles.
Carlos Adames has arrived.
The Dominican defeated longtime contender Sergiy Derevyanchenko by a majority decision in a 10-round middleweight bout on the Gervonta Davis-Isaac Cruz cards Saturday at Staples Center in Los Angeles.
The fight was billed as a title eliminator, meaning Adames (21-1, 16 KOs) moved a step closer to a shot at a 160-pound championship.
Meanwhile, Derevyanchenko (13-4, 10 KOs) has now lost three consecutive fights by decision, Gennadiy Golovkin and Jermal Charlo for titles and now Adames.
And he’s 36, not an age at which it will be easy to regroup once again.
The fighters used the first round to feel one another out and then, beginning in Round 2, never really stopped punching.
Adames got off to a quick start, landing more and cleaner shots in Rounds 2, 3 and 4. Derevyanchenko gained an edge in the middle rounds, when the fighters exchanged punches toe-to-toe on several occasions.
It was back and forth from there, with both fighters having good moments in a close fight. The last two rounds were particularly difficult to score, as neither fighter could separate from the other.
The scores reflected how close it was. One judge had it a 95-95 draw but he was overruled by his colleagues, who had it 97-93 and 96-94 for Adames.
Carlos Adames defeated Sergiy Derevyanchenko by a majority decision Saturday in Los Angeles.
Carlos Adames has arrived.
The Dominican defeated longtime contender Sergiy Derevyanchenko by a majority decision in a 10-round middleweight bout on the Gervonta Davis-Isaac Cruz cards Saturday at Staples Center in Los Angeles.
The fight was billed as a title eliminator, meaning Adames (21-1, 16 KOs) moved a step closer to a shot at a 160-pound championship.
Meanwhile, Derevyanchenko (13-4, 10 KOs) has now lost three consecutive fights by decision, Gennadiy Golovkin and Jermal Charlo for titles and now Adames.
And he’s 36, not an age at which it will be easy to regroup once again.
The fighters used the first round to feel one another out and then, beginning in Round 2, never really stopped punching.
Adames got off to a quick start, landing more and cleaner shots in Rounds 2, 3 and 4. Derevyanchenko gained an edge in the middle rounds, when the fighters exchanged punches toe-to-toe on several occasions.
It was back and forth from there, with both fighters having good moments in a close fight. The last two rounds were particularly difficult to score, as neither fighter could separate from the other.
The scores reflected how close it was. One judge had it a 95-95 draw but he was overruled by his colleagues, who had it 97-93 and 96-94 for Adames.
Gervonta Davis is rapidly becoming the knockout king of boxing.
Gervonta Davis is an exceptional all-around boxer, including speed and a skill set that rival anyone in boxing. That’s a significant part of what makes the lightweight contender one of the best in the business.
“Tank” has unbelievable boxing skills,” said his promoter, Floyd Mayweather, who knows a thing or two about the sweet science.
Let’s face it, though: The knockouts are what set him apart from the rest.
Davis has stopped 24 of his 25 opponents and the last 16 he has faced, making him arguably the pound-for-pound knockout king among active fighters. Boxing Junkie ranked him No. 2 behind heavyweight Deontay Wilder.
The only man to take him the distance? Someone named German Ivan Meraz, who lost to Davis by a six-round decision in 2014. What went wrong in that fight?
“I ate too much after the weigh-in,” he told Boxing Junkie at the final news conference before his fight with Isaac Cruz on Sunday in Los Angeles. “I drank a lot of soda, ate a bunch of stuff. That messed me up.
“Does it bother me that I couldn’t knock him out? Nah. I don’t think I’m going to knockout every opponent my whole career.”
Where does the power come from?
Davis said recently that his accuracy is one factor, meaning you get the most out of a punch when it lands precisely on the bull’s eye. However, he said on Thursday that he really doesn’t know why his shots do more damage than all but a few fighters.
He only knows that they do.
“When I catch them with a perfect shot, they either fall or they’re really tough. And they felt it for sure,” he said.
Davis’ most memorable stoppage came in October of last year, when he fought four-division titleholder Leo Santa Cruz. The fighters engaged in firefight for five-plus rounds but Davis, always thinking, was waiting for Santa Cruz to make a mistake.
Then it happened. In the sixth round, Santa Cruz fired three right hands. Davis stepped to the left of the third one, inched forward and uncorked a left uppercut that instantaneously rendered Santa Cruz unconscious and brought the crowd at the Alamodome in San Antonio to its feet.
If he wasn’t known as one of the great punchers of his era, he certainly was after that.
“It felt damn great,” he said of the stoppage. “I shook up the world. I get excited [when I have someone in my sights]. It’s like giving a kid candy. You can see all your hard work paying off as it’s happening.
“And I have the punching power to stop anyone I’m facing. It’s exciting.”
Davis was asked multiple times at the news conference whether fans can expect to see knockout No. 25 on Sunday and he wouldn’t bite.
To make such a prediction, he reasons, would be tantamount to taking Cruz (22-1-1, 15 KOs) lightly. And taking an opponent lightly is a recipe for disaster, as we’ve seen many times over the years.
Davis just smiles and serves up a diplomatic response. “You gotta wait and see,” he said.
At the same time, he did issue a warning to Cruz. The Mexican is a brawler, meaning he’s willing to take punches in order to deliver them. Isn’t that the perfect style for a fighter as powerful as Davis?
“If he walks into my punches,” said Davis, smiling one more time, “hopefully he can take what I dish out.”
Gervonta Davis is rapidly becoming the knockout king of boxing.
Gervonta Davis is an exceptional all-around boxer, including speed and a skill set that rival anyone in boxing. That’s a significant part of what makes the lightweight contender one of the best in the business.
“Tank” has unbelievable boxing skills,” said his promoter, Floyd Mayweather, who knows a thing or two about the sweet science.
Let’s face it, though: The knockouts are what set him apart from the rest.
Davis has stopped 24 of his 25 opponents and the last 16 he has faced, making him arguably the pound-for-pound knockout king among active fighters. Boxing Junkie ranked him No. 2 behind heavyweight Deontay Wilder.
The only man to take him the distance? Someone named German Ivan Meraz, who lost to Davis by a six-round decision in 2014. What went wrong in that fight?
“I ate too much after the weigh-in,” he told Boxing Junkie at the final news conference before his fight with Isaac Cruz on Sunday in Los Angeles. “I drank a lot of soda, ate a bunch of stuff. That messed me up.
“Does it bother me that I couldn’t knock him out? Nah. I don’t think I’m going to knockout every opponent my whole career.”
Where does the power come from?
Davis said recently that his accuracy is one factor, meaning you get the most out of a punch when it lands precisely on the bull’s eye. However, he said on Thursday that he really doesn’t know why his shots do more damage than all but a few fighters.
He only knows that they do.
“When I catch them with a perfect shot, they either fall or they’re really tough. And they felt it for sure,” he said.
Davis’ most memorable stoppage came in October of last year, when he fought four-division titleholder Leo Santa Cruz. The fighters engaged in firefight for five-plus rounds but Davis, always thinking, was waiting for Santa Cruz to make a mistake.
Then it happened. In the sixth round, Santa Cruz fired three right hands. Davis stepped to the left of the third one, inched forward and uncorked a left uppercut that instantaneously rendered Santa Cruz unconscious and brought the crowd at the Alamodome in San Antonio to its feet.
If he wasn’t known as one of the great punchers of his era, he certainly was after that.
“It felt damn great,” he said of the stoppage. “I shook up the world. I get excited [when I have someone in my sights]. It’s like giving a kid candy. You can see all your hard work paying off as it’s happening.
“And I have the punching power to stop anyone I’m facing. It’s exciting.”
Davis was asked multiple times at the news conference whether fans can expect to see knockout No. 25 on Sunday and he wouldn’t bite.
To make such a prediction, he reasons, would be tantamount to taking Cruz (22-1-1, 15 KOs) lightly. And taking an opponent lightly is a recipe for disaster, as we’ve seen many times over the years.
Davis just smiles and serves up a diplomatic response. “You gotta wait and see,” he said.
At the same time, he did issue a warning to Cruz. The Mexican is a brawler, meaning he’s willing to take punches in order to deliver them. Isn’t that the perfect style for a fighter as powerful as Davis?
“If he walks into my punches,” said Davis, smiling one more time, “hopefully he can take what I dish out.”
Odds: Davis 10-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Also on the card: Sebastian Fundora vs. Sergio Garcia, junior middleweights; Sergiy Derevyanchenko vs. Carlos Adames, middleweights; Eduardo Ramirez vs. Miguel Marriaga, featherweights
Prediction: Davis KO 6
Background: Davis was supposed to have fought Rolando Romero but Romero was removed from the card almost a month ago after he was accused of sexual assault. Cruz, the Mexican slugger, agreed to replace Romero. Davis, a huge puncher and fast-rising star, has knocked out his last 14 opponents in three different weight classes. That includes an 11th-round stoppage of Mario Barrios in what had been a competitive fight at 140 pounds this past June. The matchup with Cruz is Davis’s first lightweight bout since he knocked out Yuriorkis Gamboa in 12 rounds in December 2019 even though it seems to be his natural weight. He holds the WBA’s secondary 135-pound title. Cruz, an aggressive fighter from Mexico, made a splash by taking out veteran Diego Magdeleno in the first round in October of last year. He was less dominating in subsequent fights against Jose Matias Romero and Francisco Vargas, which he won by unanimous decisions. The matchup should be entertaining as both men like to mix it up.
Odds: Davis 10-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Also on the card: Sebastian Fundora vs. Sergio Garcia, junior middleweights; Sergiy Derevyanchenko vs. Carlos Adames, middleweights; Eduardo Ramirez vs. Miguel Marriaga, featherweights
Prediction: Davis KO 6
Background: Davis was supposed to have fought Rolando Romero but Romero was removed from the card almost a month ago after he was accused of sexual assault. Cruz, the Mexican slugger, agreed to replace Romero. Davis, a huge puncher and fast-rising star, has knocked out his last 14 opponents in three different weight classes. That includes an 11th-round stoppage of Mario Barrios in what had been a competitive fight at 140 pounds this past June. The matchup with Cruz is Davis’s first lightweight bout since he knocked out Yuriorkis Gamboa in 12 rounds in December 2019 even though it seems to be his natural weight. He holds the WBA’s secondary 135-pound title. Cruz, an aggressive fighter from Mexico, made a splash by taking out veteran Diego Magdeleno in the first round in October of last year. He was less dominating in subsequent fights against Jose Matias Romero and Francisco Vargas, which he won by unanimous decisions. The matchup should be entertaining as both men like to mix it up.
Odds: Haney 5-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Also on the card: Jessica McCaskill vs. Victoria Bustos, welterweights (for McCaskill’s undisputed championship); Filip Hrgovic vs. Scott Alexander, heavyweights; Montana Love vs. Carlos Diaz, junior welterweights
Prediction: Haney UD
Background: The WBC has designated Haney as its 135-pound titleholder but Boxing Junkie recognizes “franchise champion” George Kambosos as the sanctioning body’s true beltholder. Haney has been angling for a showdown with one of the big-name lightweights but has so far come up empty. That doesn’t mean he hasn’t faced quality opponents, though. He’s coming off the biggest victory of his career, a convincing decision over veteran Jorge Linares in May that enhanced his reputation as a budding star. And Diaz might be a step up from Linares. The 2012 U.S. Olympian recorded his break-through victory in January of last year, when he outpointed Tevin Farmer to win a major 130-pound title. He lost his title on the scale before his first defense and drew with Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov this past February. However, he rebounded by outpointing Javier Fortuna in his first fight as a full-fledged lightweight in July, which gave his reputation a significant boost. The winner on Friday will be a strong position to challenge Kambosos for the undisputed championship.
Gervonta Davis (25-0, 24 KOs) vs. Isaac Cruz (22-1-1, 15 KOs)
When: Saturday, Nov. 5
Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles
TV/Stream: Pay-per-view
Division: Lightweight
At stake: No major titles
Pound-for-pound ranking: Davis No. 14
Odds: Davis 10-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Also on the card: Sebastian Fundora vs. Sergio Garcia, junior middleweights; Sergiy Derevyanchenko vs. Carlos Adames, middleweights; Eduardo Ramirez vs. Miguel Marriaga, featherweights
Prediction: Davis KO 6
Background: Davis was supposed to have fought Rolando Romero but Romero was removed from the card almost a month ago after he was accused of sexual assault. Cruz, the Mexican slugger, agreed to replace Romero. Davis, a huge puncher and fast-rising star, has stopped his last 14 opponents in three different weight classes. That includes an 11th-round stoppage of Mario Barrios in what had been a competitive fight at 140 pounds this past June. The matchup with Cruz is Davis’s first lightweight bout since he knocked out Yuriorkis Gamboa in 12 rounds in December 2019 even though it seems to be his natural weight. Cruz, an aggressive fighter from Mexico, made a splash by taking out veteran Diego Magdeleno in the first round in October of last year. He was less dominating in subsequent fights against Jose Matias Romero and Francisco Vargas, which he won by unanimous decisions. The matchup should be entertaining as both men like to mix it up.
Also fighting this week: Cassius Chaney (21-0, 14 KOs) will take on George Arias (16-0, 7 KOs) in a scheduled 10-round heavyweight bout Wednesday in New York (FITE). Middleweight contender Danny Dignum (13-0-1, 7 KOs) will face Lucas Bastida (17-1-1, 9 KOs) Thursday in London (ESPN+). Also Thursday, junior middleweight contender Kerman Lejarraga (33-2, 25 KOs) will fight Jack Flatley (17-1-1, 4 KOs) in a scheduled 10-rounder in Bilbao, Spain.
Odds: Haney 5-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Also on the card: Jessica McCaskill vs. Victoria Bustos, welterweights (for McCaskill’s undisputed championship); Filip Hrgovic vs. Scott Alexander, heavyweights; Montana Love vs. Carlos Diaz, junior welterweights
Prediction: Haney UD
Background: The WBC has designated Haney as its 135-pound titleholder but Boxing Junkie recognizes “franchise champion” George Kambosos as the sanctioning body’s true beltholder. Haney has been angling for a showdown with one of the big-name lightweights but has so far come up empty. That doesn’t mean he hasn’t faced quality opponents, though. He’s coming off the biggest victory of his career, a convincing decision over veteran Jorge Linares in May that enhanced his reputation as a budding star. And Diaz might be a step up from Linares. The 2012 U.S. Olympian recorded his break-through victory in January of last year, when he outpointed Tevin Farmer to win a major 130-pound title. He lost his title on the scale before his first defense and drew with Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov this past February. However, he rebounded by outpointing Javier Fortuna in his first fight as a full-fledged lightweight in July, which gave his reputation a significant boost. The winner on Friday will be a strong position to challenge Kambosos for the undisputed championship.
Gervonta Davis (25-0, 24 KOs) vs. Isaac Cruz (22-1-1, 15 KOs)
When: Saturday, Nov. 5
Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles
TV/Stream: Pay-per-view
Division: Lightweight
At stake: No major titles
Pound-for-pound ranking: Davis No. 14
Odds: Davis 10-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Also on the card: Sebastian Fundora vs. Sergio Garcia, junior middleweights; Sergiy Derevyanchenko vs. Carlos Adames, middleweights; Eduardo Ramirez vs. Miguel Marriaga, featherweights
Prediction: Davis KO 6
Background: Davis was supposed to have fought Rolando Romero but Romero was removed from the card almost a month ago after he was accused of sexual assault. Cruz, the Mexican slugger, agreed to replace Romero. Davis, a huge puncher and fast-rising star, has stopped his last 14 opponents in three different weight classes. That includes an 11th-round stoppage of Mario Barrios in what had been a competitive fight at 140 pounds this past June. The matchup with Cruz is Davis’s first lightweight bout since he knocked out Yuriorkis Gamboa in 12 rounds in December 2019 even though it seems to be his natural weight. Cruz, an aggressive fighter from Mexico, made a splash by taking out veteran Diego Magdeleno in the first round in October of last year. He was less dominating in subsequent fights against Jose Matias Romero and Francisco Vargas, which he won by unanimous decisions. The matchup should be entertaining as both men like to mix it up.
Also fighting this week: Cassius Chaney (21-0, 14 KOs) will take on George Arias (16-0, 7 KOs) in a scheduled 10-round heavyweight bout Wednesday in New York (FITE). Middleweight contender Danny Dignum (13-0-1, 7 KOs) will face Lucas Bastida (17-1-1, 9 KOs) Thursday in London (ESPN+). Also Thursday, junior middleweight contender Kerman Lejarraga (33-2, 25 KOs) will fight Jack Flatley (17-1-1, 4 KOs) in a scheduled 10-rounder in Bilbao, Spain.
Gervonta Davis vs. late replacement Isaac Cruz is set for Dec. 5 at Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Gervonta Davis has a new opponent for his pay-per-view fight on Dec. 5 in Los Angeles.
One of the sport’s fastest rising stars, who is No. 14 on Boxing Junkie’s pound-for-pound list, will face Isaac Cruz in a 12-round lightweight bout at Staples Center.
Cruz replaces Rolando Romero, who was pulled from the event because of sexual assault allegations.
Davis (25-0, 24 KOs) has stopped his last 16 opponents, including Mario Barrios in 11 rounds in a junior welterweight fight this past June.
Cruz (22-1-1, 15 KOs) also is on an impressive run. The aggressive Mexican is 17-0-1 since he suffered his only loss early in his career. He’s coming off a unanimous-decision victory over Francisco Vargas in June.
[lawrence-related id=21589,21479,21256,15186]
“I respect Isaac Cruz for stepping up and taking the fight, but everyone knows what I do,” Davis said. “I come in looking for the knockout and that’s exactly what I’m going to do in this fight.
“I’m back in Los Angeles, where the stars shine, and I’m going to light it up against Isaac Cruz at Staples Center on December 5.’’
Cruz, who is only 23, is grateful for the opportunity.
“First, I want to thank Gervonta Davis and his team for this opportunity, an opportunity I won’t let get past me,’’ he said. “God willing I’ll be world champion on December 5. This fight is a very big motivation for me as a professional and as a personal goal. I’m sure after December 5 everyone in boxing will know the name Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz.’’
Davis holds a secondary WBA 135-pound title. Teofimo Lopez is the sanctioning body’s lightweight champion.
Gervonta Davis vs. late replacement Isaac Cruz is set for Dec. 5 at Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Gervonta Davis has a new opponent for his pay-per-view fight on Dec. 5 in Los Angeles.
One of the sport’s fastest rising stars, who is No. 14 on Boxing Junkie’s pound-for-pound list, will face Isaac Cruz in a 12-round lightweight bout at Staples Center.
Cruz replaces Rolando Romero, who was pulled from the event because of sexual assault allegations.
Davis (25-0, 24 KOs) has stopped his last 16 opponents, including Mario Barrios in 11 rounds in a junior welterweight fight this past June.
Cruz (22-1-1, 15 KOs) also is on an impressive run. The aggressive Mexican is 17-0-1 since he suffered his only loss early in his career. He’s coming off a unanimous-decision victory over Francisco Vargas in June.
[lawrence-related id=21589,21479,21256,15186]
“I respect Isaac Cruz for stepping up and taking the fight, but everyone knows what I do,” Davis said. “I come in looking for the knockout and that’s exactly what I’m going to do in this fight.
“I’m back in Los Angeles, where the stars shine, and I’m going to light it up against Isaac Cruz at Staples Center on December 5.’’
Cruz, who is only 23, is grateful for the opportunity.
“First, I want to thank Gervonta Davis and his team for this opportunity, an opportunity I won’t let get past me,’’ he said. “God willing I’ll be world champion on December 5. This fight is a very big motivation for me as a professional and as a personal goal. I’m sure after December 5 everyone in boxing will know the name Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz.’’
Davis holds a secondary WBA 135-pound title. Teofimo Lopez is the sanctioning body’s lightweight champion.
