Jaime Munguia Wins Savage Battle

Munguia and Derevyanchenko Stage Battle for the Ages.

(All photos by Al Applerose)

By Igor Frank

ONTARIO, Calif.– Mexican star Jaime Munguia narrowly escaped a disaster with a late rounds rally and liver shot knock down over Ukrainian badass, Sergiy Derevyanchenko Saturday night at the Toyota Center. It was an unforgettable twelve rounds of violence  that had fans on their feet for most of the fight.

The roar in the stands reached a crescendo in the final round of a brutal bloodbath as surging Munguia dropped his foe with a liver shot. Displaying an inhuman courage and resilience Derevyanchenko got up and survived a furious onslaught that followed. However, despite the earlier advantage it would not be enough for Ukrainian fighter to get the victory.

All three judges scored the fight for Munguia 115-112,114-113,114-113, who sealed the deal with spectacular championship rounds rally.

“I am very happy with the fight,” said Munguia (42-0,33KO’S) in the post fight interview: “It was a great victory. We made some mistakes but were still here undefeated. I am very happy with a decision and in reality it took me a lot of effort to achieve it.”

One fighter who was not happy with the decision and also put a lot of effort into this instant classic was Sergiy Derevyanchenko (14-5,10KO’S) who seemed almost resigned to being on the wrong end of close decisions. He asked for a rematch.

There were no feeling out rounds; they went at it with furious exchanges almost from the opening bell. Ukrainian fighter seemed to ge the better of the early round exchanges with shorter more compact punches. However, Munguia held his own landing vicious body shots and occasional long range right hand missiles as the raucous crowd chanted his name. It was anybody’s fight after four rounds.

The violence continued in the fifth as Derevyanchenko took control of the fight assaulting Munguia with violent combinations and trapping him on the ropes and punishing him over and over. Young Mexican star looked lost and confused and on the verge of being stopped, but he managed to survive.

Derevyanchenko continued to control the action in the 8th and landed some heavy leather after disorienting Munguia with an accidental head butt.” The Technician” continued to pour it on, but Munguia took a licking and kept on ticking. And the ticking started to get louder at the end of the fight.

Munguia landed a hook to the body in the tenth that electrified the crowd.

Tijuana native did some very good work in the 11th landing several powerful right hands and moving forward. It seemed to take a lot out of Ukrainian fighter.

Munguia saved the best for last as he unleashed a furious body attack and dropped the Ukrainian fighter midway through the final round with the vicious liver shot. He continued his savage assault but Derevyanchenko was able to survive to hear the final bell. It was an awe-inspiring battle that will instantly go into the archives of boxing history. And even though Munguia had his hand raised in victory, the real winners were the fans. I heard one of them exclaim:” I don’t even care who won this fight. It was this good!”