Derevyanchenko decimates Soliman; Khytrov dominates Mendez

By Jason Marchetti
Photos: Emily Harney

Sergiy Derevyanchenko (9-0, 7 KOs) dropped Sam Soliman (44-14, 18 KOs) once in the 1st round and twice in the 2nd round en route to a TKO in an IBF middleweight title eliminator. The fight was televised on ESPN as part of the Premier Boxing Champions broadcast, promoted by DiBella Entertainent.

Soliman got caught several times in the 1st round and tied up Derevyanchenko, but he couldn’t escaped the perfectly timed 1-2 punch when bouncing off the ropes and hit the canvas.

Derevyanchenko showed power on several punches throughout the fight, sending Soliman across the ring off balance and “slipping” on the canvas several times. In the second, Soliman hit the canvas once from a quick exchange in the corner and the other was from a vicious right-left combination that sent Soliman through the ropes. Soliman was waved off immediately as he laid on the canvas for several minutes after the bout was over.

In a thrillingly, dominating performance, Ievgen Khytrov (14-0, 12 KOs) TKO’d Paul Mendez (19-3-2, 9 KOs) in the 9th round in a bout at middleweight. Mendez showed toughness by never hitting the canvas, but the round-by-round onslaught by the Ukrainian-native was too overwhelming for referee Joey Lupino to let it continue.

Khytrov took control of the fight at the end of the 1st round and never took his foot off the gas, connecting on well over 50 punches per round. Jabs, hook, uppercuts, and power shots were all in the Ukranian’s arsenal as he punished and broke down Mendez throughout the fight. Mendez showed grit and a solid chin and occasionally punched back with a lazy jab or right hand with little success. However, Khytrov closed the distance enough to take away Mendez’ jab, but was still able to throw his power hooks with a high rate of accuracy. Mendez often found himself in the corner, looking for an escape as Khytrov put in some body work with hooks to the ribs and on the beltline.

At the end of the 8th, Mendez took a heavy hit to the jaw and was in trouble in the corner as the bell rang. In the 9th, as in every round, Khytrov was in total control as Mendez legs weakened with each heavy blow landed to his head. Finally, after nearly 500 punches landed, Mendez was rightfully stopped as he was taking far more punishment than most boxers in this (or any) weight division.

Khytrov is raked by all four major sanctioning bodies – WBC #5, IBF #11, WBO #14, and WBA #15.

‘Marvelous’ Mykey Williams (3-0, 2 KOs) defeated Issac Johnson (2-4) in a four round bout at welterweight. Williams, the amateur-standout from East Hartford, stings his opponents with his jabs and left hook. Johnson was a game opponent, taking shots and continuing to pursue Williams until the final bell. However, Williams timed him perfectly as the fight went on and never gave Jonson a chance to win any rounds. All three judges scored it 40-36 for Williams.

In a solid middleweight fight, Alantez Fox (20-0-1, 9 KOs) punished Mexican veteran Paul Valenzuela, Jr. (17-4, 11 KO’s) for a 6th round TKO. The fight opened with Valenzuela scoring on the inside with body shots followed by overhand right hands. In the 2nd, Fox landed a flush straight right hand to the temple and wobbled Valenzuela on the ropes. As the fight progressed, Fox used his jab to keep Valenzuela away and the tiring opponent took more and more punishment as cuts opened on both sides of his face. Fox scored heavy with his left hook in the 5th and Valenzuela could not answer the bell at the end of the 6th round. Fox was likely way up on the scorecards at the time of the stoppage by the ringside doctor.

After about 6 or 8 undefended shots to the face in the first minute of the bout, the referee waved off the contest as southpaw Christopher Davis-Fogg (1-0, 1 KO) earns his first career victory over Jeff Anderson (0-2) at middleweight in the opening bout of the evening. Anderson, a veteran MMA fighter, dropped his hands and let Davis-Fogg tee off to the surprise of everyone ringside. Although, he didn’t seem overly hurt from the onslaught, the referee had decided it was enough. Davis-Fogg is a former New England Golden Gloves Champion.

In a solid middleweight fight, Alantez Fox (20-0-1, 9 KOs) punished Mexican veteran Paul Valenzuela, Jr. (17-4, 11 KO’s) for a 6th round TKO. The fight opened with Valenzuela scoring on the inside with body shots followed by overhand right hands. In the 2nd, Fox landed a flush straight right hand to the temple and wobbled Valenzuela on the ropes. As the fight progressed, Fox used his jab to keep Valenzuela away and the tiring opponent took more and more punishment as cuts opened on both sides of his face. Fox scored heavy with his left hook in the 5th and Valenzuela could not answer the bell at the end of the 6th round. Fox was likely way up on the scorecards at the time of the stoppage by the ringside doctor.

After about 6 or 8 undefended shots to the face in the first minute of the bout, the referee waved off the contest as southpaw Christopher Davis-Fogg (1-0, 1 KO) earns his first career victory over Jeff Anderson (0-2) at middleweight in the opening bout of the evening. Anderson, a veteran MMA fighter, dropped his hands and let Davis-Fogg tee off to the surprise of everyone ringside. Although, he didn’t seem overly hurt from the onslaught, the referee had decided it was enough. Davis-Fogg is a former New England Golden Gloves Champion.

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