Christian Mbilli vs. Sergiy Derevyanchenko: Picks, Predictions and Odds

A potential glimpse into the future of the super-middleweight division will take place in Canada on Saturday night.

Cameroonian-born Frenchman Christian Mbilli faces the first true test of his world title credentials when he faces Sergiy Derevyanchenko over 10 rounds in Top Rank’s main event at Centre Videotron in Quebec City.

Christian Mbilli vs. Sergiy Derevyanchenko betting picks and predictions

Life after Canelo Alvarez, the current unified champion, may not be looming large but considerations as to who will take over the top spot one day have to be discussed. And Mbilli is one possibility along with Jaime Munguia, Osleys Iglesias and Diego Pacheco.

Should Mbilli mow down Derevyancehnko as he has done against 85 percent of his opponents, then he will be considered even more seriously. However, a one-round blowout of Britain’s Mark Heffron last time out and wins over Rohan Murdock, Desmond Nicholson and Carlos Gongora don’t look impressive on paper.

Instead, it’s all about how Mbilli goes about his business which has turned him into a threat to Canelo at 168 pounds. Pressure, power punching, inside fighting, physicality and even more pressure is used to suffocate opponents or damage them to the point of being unable to continue.

Derevyanchenko, however, will gladly meet him wherever he wants in the ring and he'll punch hard. The 38-year-old veteran has mixed in elite company and was considered unlucky not to get the win over all-time great middleweight champion Gennadiy Golovkin when they fought in 2019.

Facing Daniel Jacobs, Golovkin, Jermall Charlo, Carlos Adames and playing his part in a an all-action barnburner against Jaime Munguia are all well and good but he never beat any of them despite his efforts.

What Derevyanchenko can do on Saturday night is pose questions of Mbilli that no-one else has done so far. Mbilli is used to dominating fights and being the superior fighter who gets to prey on his opponent and punch them at will.

Derevyanchenko has experience by the truckload and will have seen everything Mbilli has done before. He possesses excellent punch selection and an engine which matched Mexican marauder Jaime Munguia in June 2023. Seriously, go check that fight out.

Mbilli is the fresher of the two being nine years younger and having far less miles on the clock. He will look to start fast and take Derevyanchenko into deep waters early and test his survival skills.

This promises to be a hugely entertaining fight where both men will go toe-to-toe often and in potentially enthralling fashion.

The obvious pick is Mbilli to win, but will it go the distance or not? Ten rounds is not a lot of time to knock a man out who in his five defeats has never been stopped against heavy handed opponents.

I expect Derevyanchenko to go to the well one more time and add another punishing 30 minutes to his career but Mbilli will get his hand raised with a points win at +100.

Shaun Brown's picks

Christian Mbili to win by decision or technical decision (+100)

Most jabs thrown: Sergiy Derevyanchenko (+150)

Christian Mbilli vs. Sergiy Derevyanchenko odds

	Christian Mbili	Sergiy Derevyanchenko
Money Line	-650	+425
By KO, TKO or DQ	+137	+1800
By Decision or Technical Decision	+100	+650

Odds displayed within this article were correct at the time of writing and are subject to change.