Hackett established the pace early by working behind a sharp jab and using quick footwork to keep Derevyanchenko from settling into a rhythm. The veteran patiently looked for openings, landing occasional overhand rights when Hackett lingered too long in range, but he struggled to match the younger fighter’s output.
Hackett became more aggressive in the middle rounds. He landed uppercuts, snapped back Derevyanchenko’s head with straight shots, and backed the veteran toward the ropes.
A crisp uppercut late in the fifth round snapped the veteran’s head back and highlighted Hackett’s growing confidence.
The damage became increasingly visible as cuts opened around both of Derevyanchenko’s eyes. Blood streamed down his face over the second half of the fight, yet the Ukrainian continued pressing forward, showing the durability that has defined his career against many of the sport’s best middleweights.
Although Hackett appeared comfortably ahead entering the final round, Derevyanchenko refused to go quietly. The veteran landed a hard shot that staggered Hackett and briefly gave the crowd hope of a dramatic finish. Hackett recovered quickly, regained his composure, and avoided any further trouble before the final bell.
The closing scare was not enough to erase Hackett’s work over the first nine rounds. His jab, movement, and cleaner punching earned him the unanimous decision over a battle-tested opponent who had previously shared the ring with elite fighters throughout the middleweight division.
Hackett left New York with the most significant victory of his career. He controlled an experienced contender for most of the fight, survived a tense final round, and earned a convincing unanimous decision.
Hackett left New York with the biggest victory of his career, but the performance raised as many questions as it answered. Derevyanchenko, a 40-year-old veteran coming off a lengthy layoff, remained dangerous until the final bell and badly hurt Hackett in the 10th round.
Although the judges returned unanimous scorecards for Hackett, the fight felt much closer than those numbers suggested. Rather than establishing himself as a future force at middleweight, Hackett showed he still has significant ground to make up before he belongs in the conversation with the division’s elite.
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