Gennady Golovkin defeats Sergiy Derevyanchenko in fight of the year

Boxing fans have been treated to one of the best fights they’ll ever see as two superstars put it all on the line as it went the distance.

Gennadiy Golovkin regained one of his old middleweight titles, edging Sergiy Derevyanchenko in a unanimous decision to take the IBF championship.

Golovkin knocked down Derevyanchenko in the first round, opened a cut near his right eye in the second, and then held on from there in a fight where the longtime middleweight ruler absorbed plenty of the type of punishing shots he used to deliver.

But he did just enough to win 115-112 on two cards and 114-113 on the other, claiming the belt that was vacated by Canelo Alvarez, who handed Golovkin (40-1-1, 35 KOs) his only loss.

GGG wins via unanimous decision (114-113, 115-112, 115-112) #GGGDerevyanchenko

— Chisanga Malata (@Chisanga_Malata) October 6, 2019

Derevyanchenko (13-2) fell just short in his second attempt to win the middleweight title, having lost by split decision to Danny Jacobs last year, also at Madison Square Garden.

Some fans weren’t happy with the decision going against Derevyanchenko, but everyone agreed it was arguably the fight of the year with the 10th round being an all out war.

THIS is the fight of the year, and it's not even over. And round 10 is round of the year! Both Golovkin and Derevyancheko are one punch from collapsing, this is unreal! #GGGDerevyanchenko

— Ryan Songalia (@ryansongalia) October 6, 2019

This is a real slugfest. #GGGDerevyanchenko

— Ben Kiely (@TheJivemaster) October 6, 2019

As Golovkin was handed the microphone following the fight he was met with a loud chorus of boos from the New York crowd.

“Absolutely, guys come on,” he said.

“He did a great job, I respect his team, I told you he’s very tough guy this is huge experience for me. I understand, I need more.

“More focused boxing, after the first round I thought this was an easy fight for me, no, it was a tough fight.

“Right now I think it’s a bad day for me. It’s a huge experience for me. Right now I know what I need.

“I lost a little bit of focused after first round, I thought it was going to be an easy fight for me. If it’s a big fight for DAZN and the people I am ready for anything.

“I need to stay strong in my camp and be more serious.

“I’m open for anybody there are so many great champions.”

Golovkin defended the middleweight title 20 times, tied for the record, before first vacating the IBF belt when he wouldn’t agree to face mandatory challenger Derevyanchenko when the original date for the second match against Alvarez had to be scrapped in May 2018 after the Mexican failed a drug test. Golovkin then left without any bouts after falling to Alvarez when it was rescheduled.

He’s a champion again now, but just barely.

— with AP