IBF orders Jacobs vs Derevyanchenko
The IBF has ordered Sergiy Derevyanchenko to fight Daniel Jacobs for their vacant middleweight title. The title that Gennady Golovkin was stripped of last week. Whether or not the bout happens will remains to be seen.
Derevyanchenko who was Golovkin’s mandatory for the IBF title will finally get his shot. It’s been a messy process to get to this point, as Golovkin lost his appeal trying to get the bout with Derevyanchenko pushed back. The former IBF middleweight titlist simply made a rematch with Saul “Canelo” Alvarez his top priority.
After the rematch fell through for Cinco De Mayo due to Alvarez failed drug tests. Golovkin took on Vanes Martirosyan on short notice. It was a bout the IBF did not sanction. They did however grant Golovkin an exception as long as he agreed to fight Derevyanchenko by August 3rd. Golovkin never gave the IBF written notice that he would honor exception and therefore was stripped of his title.
Jacobs, who seems to be the hot name as of late, entered the picture as negotiations between Alvarez and Golovkin fell apart last week. Should Golovkin and Alvarez fail to strike a deal to meet, Jacobs could very well be the one to face Canelo. Jacobs has many avenues he can choose to go but will the IBF be the one he chooses?
Derevyanchenko and Jacobs are friends, they share the same gym and often train together. That’s not the only thing they share, as both fighters are trained by Andre Rozier. Will he accept to face Derevyanchenko or try to wait out what will happen in the outgoing saga in the Alvarez/Golovkin negotiations.
Jacobs has options outside of the IBF as he was declared the number one contender for Golovkin’s WBA title. Jacobs defeated Maciej Sulecki by unanimous in April, with the victory it guaranteed Jacobs another title shot in the future. So will he take on Derevyanchenko? Face Canelo Alvarez? Or simply just wait to get a shot the WBA route?
Sounds like he has some decisions to make. If Jacobs decides to take the IBF title shot they will have 30 days to negotiate or the bout will go to purse bid. 3KingsBoxing.com will comeback with an update as more information becomes available.
By: Wilson Urena
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