Gennady Golovkin scores unanimous decision win vs. Sergiy Derevyanchenko: Round-by-round analysis

In a surprisingly close fight, Gennady Golovkin beat Sergiy Derevyanchenko of the Ukraine by unanimous decision Saturday night and won the IBF and IBO middleweight championship belts.

The three judges scored the fight 115-112, 115-112 and 114-113 in favor of Golovkin, and fans inside Madison Square Garden booed their disapproval during Golovkin’s in-ring interview on the DAZN broadcast.

Golovkin (40-1-1) scored a knockdown in the first round. But Derevyanchenko (13-2) recovered quickly and was the aggressor for much of the 12-round fight.

“After the first round, I feel this is an easy fight for me,’’ Golovkin said. “No, this is a tough fight.’’

Golovkin also said he had gotten distracted during training camp — “100 percent,’’ he said — with talk about a possible third bout with Canelo Alvarez, who has frustrated Golovkin by avoiding a trilogy fight.

“I need to work hard,’’ Golovkin said. “I need just a little bit more focus.’’

Paste BN Sports' Josh Peter provides his round-by-round breakdown of the fight:

Round 1: Chants of “Triple G” from the crowd. Sergiy throwing jabs with some success. Golovkin respond with a few jabs took. More jabs from Golovkin. Looks ready to unload a right when the opportunity is there. Down goes Sergiy! From a GGG combo with one minute left in the round. Sergiy beats the 10-count and makes it to the end of the round.

Peter's score: Golovkin 10, Sergiy 8.   

Round 2: Sergiy comes out aggressive. Mildly surprising after the knockdown. Golovkin unloads a hook and goes to body. Back comes Sergiy with a straight right. Two fighters traded punches in the middle of the ring. Sergiy firing jabs with effectiveness. But Golovkin draws blood. Lots of blood coming from around Sergiy’s right eye.  

Golovkin 20, Sergiy 17.  

Round 3: Again, Sergiy moving forward when round starts, despite the knockdown and the serious cut near his right eye. Sergiy lands some big punches. More exchanges. But Golovkin weathering this mini-storm and fires a serious body shot. Both fighters looking game here. Golovkin delivers a big right. Impressive round for Sergiy.   

Golovkin 29, Sergiy 27.

Round 4: Golovkin appears to have his hands full. Sergiy still moving forward with that left jab. Golovkin responds with another solid body punch. Action dwindling here. Well, briefly. Here comes Sergiy, backing up Golovkin. Another good combo from Sergiy.

Golovkin 38, Sergiy 37. 

Round 5: Just before the round starts, the ring doctor checks cut near Sergiy’s right eye. Rules the fight can continue. Commission rules the cut was opened by a head-butt.

Sergiy still landing more punches and now the aggressor. Very active with his jab. Golovkin not answering. Maybe waiting for the KO punch opportunity? Lands a big uppercut. But Sergiy not backing off at all. Sergiy’s defense offsetting a lot of Golovkin’s punches, too. Golovkin looks in trouble. Backed into referee, who might have inadvertently kept Golovkin upright.

Golovkin 47, Sergiy 47.

Round 6: Golovkin firing early, but nothing landing. Sergiy looking fearless against his far more accomplished opponent. More jabs from Sergiy. Golovkin eating punches, and taking body shots. A third fight with Canelo looks a million miles away. Golovkin getting all he can handle here. Now Golovkin looking steadier as he unloads jabs.

Golovkin 57, Sergiy 56. 

Round 7: Boxers firing as soon as the round begins. Sergiy still looking like the stronger of two fighters. Throwing a variety of punches and landing plenty. Golovkin clearly looking for the big punch. And looking. And looking. Tough body shots from Golovkin. Sergiy staying active and tagging Golovkin in the body. His assault of Golovkin continues. Some big punches from Golovkin late.

Golovkin 66, Sergiy 66.  

Round 8: Golovkin shakes his head as if indicating Sergiy’s punches aren’t hurting him. I'm not convinced. Sergiy continues to attack Golovkin’s body. But here comes Golovkin. Again, appears to be loading up for his famous knockout punch. Sergiy not complying. Staying active with his jab. Paying customers getting their money’s worth.

Golovkin 76, Sergiy 75.  

Round 9: Golovkin lands big punch. Sergiy shaken only briefly. Back he comes with his own punches. Sergiy has yet to back away or cower in the face of GGG’s power. Sergiy stalking and unloading a flurry of punches. One after the other after the other. Sergiy simply faster and more active here. Cut near Sergiy’s right eye getting worse. Could be a problem. Golovkin firing jabs at that cut.

Golovkin 85, Sergiy 85. 

Round 10: Sergiy looking VERY strong. GGG looks unsteady on his feet. Remarkable. Sergiy landing jabs and right hands. Golovkin in serious trouble. Here come the chants: “Triple G!” But Sergiy still getting the better of Golovkin. Golovkin firing big punches. Missing on almost all of them. Sergiy connecting again and again. As soon as Golovkin lands, Sergiy fires a fusillade of punches.

Sergiy 95, Golovkin 94. 

Round 11: Sergiy setting the pace again. Very active. Firing jabs and body punches and asserting himself. But both fighters looking a little fatigued. Understandably. Golovkin still failing to land the big punch. Doesn't seem content — or capable? — or much else here. Not much leather landing now.

Sergiy 105, Golovkin 103.

Round 12: Sergiy comes out firing. Seems determined to sprint to the finish line here. Does Golovkin have a last-gasp KO punch left in him? Golovkin landing, but Sergiy withstanding them and firing body punches in return. Sergiy pummeling Golovkin with body punches, and GGG feeling it too.   

Sergiy 114, Golovkin 113.