Over its couple year history, PBC has generally brought a mixed bag to its FS1 programming. There is nothing mixed about these two main events, however. First, on August 22nd, Anthony Peterson will finally take a step back up against the returning former titleholder Mickey Bey. Then, just days later on August 25th, top prospect Sergiy Derevyanchenko will fight once beaten Tureano Johnson in an IBF eliminator.
Mickey Bey (22-2-1, 10 KOs) hasn’t fought since losing an attempt to reclaim his IBF title to Rances Barthelemy last June. Bey originally won his belt thanks to a 2014 win over Miguel Vasquez. He then lost it without as much as defending it when he chose to not go on the road to defend against Denis Shafikov, forcing the IBF to strip him. He has been very inactive sense, fighting only once in both 2015 and 2016.
It seems like a lifetime ago now, but Anthony Peterson (37-1, 24 KOs) did for a while seem to be the more exciting, if not flat out better prospect of the two Peterson brothers. Despite being a thirteen year pro, however, Peterson has only stepped up to world level one time. In 2010, he met Brandon Rios in a title eliminator. Rios dominated Anthony, hurting him repeatedly. Peterson eventually got himself disqualified due to repeated low blows in what was widely speculated to be an attempt to get himself out of the beating. In the near seven years since, he has not stepped back up until now.
This is a really interesting fight that will bring some clarity to the division. It is also likely Anthony Peterson’s last attempt at really being a top fighter. It will take place in Las Vegas and its co-main event will be former bantamweight titlist Juan Carlos Payano (18-1, 9 KOs) against Arizona’s Alexis Santiago (21-4-1, 8 KOs) over ten rounds.
Ukrainian super prospect Sergiy “The Technician” Derevyanchenko (10-0, 8 KOs) is already 31, so the move to a title eliminator this early makes a lot of sense. A 2008 Olympian, The Technician also holds a 22-1 record in the semi-pro and generally talent filled World Series of Boxing league. His biggest win to date was a quick stoppage of former titlist Sam Soliman last summer and most recently Derevyanchenko stopped Jamaican Kemahl Russell on FS1 in March.
Tureano Johnson (20-1, 14 KOs), basically the only fighter of note from the Bahamas, is best known for his 2014 fight with Curtis Stevens. In that bout, Johnson went into the tenth round with a comfortable lead, only to be hurt and then controversially stopped in the final frame. Most though that stoppage was premature and that Johnson was robbed of the chance to finish the fight and win a decision.
The winner of this fight becomes the mandatory challenger on behalf of the IBF for the GGG/Canelo winner. Obviously this has major implications. The card will take place in Miami, Oklahoma and its co-main event will pit unbeaten middleweight prospect Immanuwel Aleem (17-0-1, 10 KOs) against Hugo Centeno (25-1, 13 KOs) in a ten round fight.
