Experienced Ukrainian middleweight boxer Serhiy Derevyanchenko has no intention of ending his professional career following his recent loss to young prospect Jaleel Hackett. This was revealed in an exclusive comment by the athlete's American manager, Keith Connolly, who emphasized that the 40-year-old Ukrainian has already returned to training and is in impressive physical shape. According to Connolly, the team will hold decisive talks about Derevyanchenko's future plans in the near future, though the manager is convinced that his fighter will want to keep boxing.
Fight Assessment: Speed vs. Skill
Commenting on Derevyanchenko's performance in the bout against Hackett, Keith Connolly noted that despite the final loss, his fighter showed a high level of boxing that evening. In the manager's assessment, the opponent's advantage lay solely in age and speed: "Derevyanchenko lost to a local prospect, but he boxed well that night. Hackett was simply faster and younger." Connolly stressed that the Ukrainian's technical skill and tactical composure remain at the level of elite fighters, and the fight's outcome does not reflect the true balance of power in the ring.
"The Best Boxer in 25 Years Without a Belt"
In his statement, Keith Connolly allowed himself one of the most striking assessments of his fighter in his entire career: "Serhiy is probably the best boxer in the last 25 years without a belt." The manager also recalled that Derevyanchenko had three times challenged for the IBF world middleweight title, losing to Daniel Jacobs, Gennady Golovkin, and Jermall Charlo, and stated that his fighter deserved the championship belt. "We all know that he actually beat Golovkin, and he should have become world champion," Connolly added, emphasizing that his team does not consider the bout against the Kazakh a loss.
Contradictory Data
Keith Connolly's claim that Serhiy Derevyanchenko "actually beat Golovkin" directly contradicts the official result of the fight, which was recorded by judges' decisions in favor of Gennady Golovkin. According to the Ukrainian's manager, the outcome of the bout was distorted, and Derevyanchenko deserved the status of world champion. At the same time, no official boxing organization — neither the IBF, nor the WBA, nor the WBC — has reviewed the result of this fight, and in Derevyanchenko's professional record the bout against Golovkin is listed as a loss. Thus, Connolly's assessment is purely the subjective opinion of a representative of one side and is not supported by official documents. Moreover, the provided sources lack the exact dates of the recent fight with Hackett and specific details of the judges' score, which limits the possibility of independent verification.
Physical Condition and Return to Training
Keith Connolly paid particular attention to Derevyanchenko's current physical condition. The manager reported that he had already watched recent training videos of the Ukrainian after the tough bout with Hackett and was impressed by how quickly the athlete recovered. "I saw his recent training videos after the fight — that's the whole Serhiy. He's always in shape, he's always ready," Connolly stated. According to him, Derevyanchenko remains a model professional who maintains discipline and routine even in the periods between fights, which allows him to stay competitive at a mature age.
Career Path: From Amateur Legend to Title Contender
Serhiy Derevyanchenko is a native of Feodosia and a member of the legendary Ukrainian amateur national team, which at various times included Oleksandr Usyk, Vasyl Lomachenko, Denys Berinchyk, Oleksandr Gvozdyk, and other stars of world boxing. On the amateur circuit, he became a bronze medalist at the 2007 World Championships and took part in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Derevyanchenko began his professional career in 2014 and has since competed in the middleweight and super middleweight divisions, earning the nickname "The Technician" for his refined technical skill and tactical composure in the ring.
What's Next: Talks About the Future
Keith Connolly confirmed that Derevyanchenko's team will hold talks about the next steps in his career in the near future. "Derevyanchenko is a great boxer, a big professional, and a good person. Soon we will discuss with him whether he will continue his career," the manager stated. At the same time, Connolly expressed confidence that his fighter will decide in favor of continuing to compete: "I think he will want to box more." Thus, the 40-year-old Ukrainian boxer, despite the recent loss and three unsuccessful attempts to win the world title, retains his ambitions and intention to remain on the professional ring.
