Sergiy Derevyanchenko Knocks Out Kemahl Russell in PBC on FS1 Main Event

Mike SloanMar 15, 2017


Middleweight contender Sergiy Derevyanchenko was impressive once again in his blossoming young career as he took out Kemahl Russell in the fifth round Tuesday night. The battle highlighted the latest PBC on FS1’s “Toe-To-Toe Tuesdays” card, which took place down in Tunica, Miss., at Fitzgerald’s Tunica Casino and Hotel.

A Russian-born Brooklyn resident, Derevyanchenko was much shorter against the previously-unbeaten Russell coming in and he had trouble getting in on the inside early. Russell used his jab well for the first three rounds, but Derevyanchenko eventually figured out the distance and forced the American into ill-advised brawls.

Derevyanchenko (10-0, 8 KOs) began busting up his foe to the body and head and when a laser of a right to the head rocked Russell early in the fifth, the end was in sight. Derevyanchenko pounced all over his stumbling adversary and unloaded a barrage of punches from all angles and when Russell (10-1, 8 KOs) was unable to properly defend himself, veteran referee Bill Clancy intervened, ending the main event at the 1:08 mark of the round.

Ahmed Elbiali (15-0, 12 KOs) blew away Brazil’s Jackson Junior (20-8, 19 KOs) in just 93 seconds. After a brisk start from both men, Elbiali crashed an overhand right onto Junior’s temple and dropped him. Though Junior got back to his feet, he was too unsteady on his legs and the fight was stopped.

Jamontay Clark (11-0, 7 KOs) opened the FS1 telecast with a TKO over Gaku Takahashi (15-7-1, 7 KOs) at the end of the seventh. Though the fight was entertaining, Takahashi was rocked badly near the end of the seventh and his corner threw in the towel before the eighth could begin.