One-armed Sergiy Derevyanchenko refuses to quit against Christian Mbilli: When boxers go beyond the call of duty

When you have super middleweight power-puncher Christian Mbilli trying to knock your head off, the last thing you need is more problems. Unfortunately, Sergiy Derevyanchenko suffered a torn left biceps in the third round of his battle against the unbeaten Canadian and was forced to fight the remainder of the 10-rounder one-handed.

Despite dropping a lopsided decision and enduring insurmountable pain, the loser made new fans with a soldier-like act of gallantry.

The sport of boxing has done Derevyanchenko very few favors. The Ukrainian star dropped close decisions to Gennadiy Golovkin and Daniel Jacobs in world title fights when a win in either of those contests would have changed his life. He was then sacrificed at the expense of Jaime Munguia's ascent while time was running out on his career. This injury is just another slap in the face for the 38-year-old.

WATCH: Christian Mbilli vs. Sergiy Derevyanchenko on ESPN+

Trainer Andre Rozier considered stopping the Mbilli fight, but Derevyanchenko would have none of it. "I said, 'Do you want me to stop this fight?' and he said no," recalled the acclaimed coach during post-fight interviews with ESPN. "That is the sign of a warrior, and he continued to fight one of the best 168-pounders in the world with one hand."

Boxers are a different breed. Any normal human being would feel justified in pulling out due to serious injury. Derevyanchenko isn't normal; he's a warrior who refuses to give up under any conditions. His heroic losing effort last night puts him in a special category with fighters who dug deep to get the best out of themselves against overwhelming odds.

The Sporting News looks back at five occasions when a boxer went beyond the call of duty.

Muhammad Ali

• Fight: Ken Norton
• Date: March 31, 1973
• Location: San Diego Sports Arena
• Injury: Broken jaw

Muhammad Ali was on a 10-fight win streak after losing for the first time in his career to Joe Frazier in March 1971. Norton, an ex-marine, was supposed to be an easy night's work but turned out to be anything but. While there's a dispute about when the injury happened (Ali said Round 2 and Norton said Round 12), there's no doubt that Ali's mouth was damaged entering the late rounds of this heavyweight non-title fight. Refusing to quit, Ali slugged it out with his opponent until the end before losing a decision. He'd suffered a clean break to his jaw with a quarter-of-an-inch separation.

Result: Norton SD 12

Danny Williams

• Fight: Mark Potter
• Date: October 21, 2000
• Location: Wembley Arena, London
• Injury: Dislocated right shoulder

Acts of heroism aren't just reserved for the world level. In a British heavyweight title fight, Williams suffered a dislocated right shoulder against Mark Potter early in round three. In terrible trouble, there was a huge relief when the shoulder popped back in, but by round six it was out again. In horrific pain with no defense against the left hook, Williams staggered around the ring looking for time. Suddenly, from out of nowhere, Williams slipped a jab and countered with a killer left uppercut that dropped Potter hard. Two more knockdowns followed, and Williams had pulled off a miracle triumph.

Result: Williams TKO 6

Arturo Gatti

• Fight: Micky Ward
• Date: June 7, 2003
• Location: Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City
• Injury: Broken right hand

It was perhaps the most violent trilogy in boxing history. In the second fight, Ward suffered a perforated ear drum and fought eight rounds with next to no equilibrium before losing a decision. In the third fight, it was Gatti whose will would be tested by serious injury. Following a bright start, the legendary warrior broke his twice-repaired right hand on his rival's hip in round four and was in clear agony. Hands often get broken in fights — it's an occupational hazard — but what made this incident different is that Gatti had no choice but to keep throwing it to hold Ward off. He survived a knockdown in round seven to win a decision.

Result: Gatti UD 10

MORE: SN's Top 12 best heavyweight boxers

Arthur Abraham

• Fight: Edison Miranda
• Date: September 23, 2006
• Location: Rittal Arena, Germany
• Injury: Broken jaw

No matter how far behind Edison Miranda was in a fight, he was always dangerous and capable of inflicting damage. Under fire from then-WBO middleweight champ Arthur Abraham, the fighter known as "Pantera" broke his opponent's jaw with a savage right uppercut in round four. However, Miranda ruined his chances of winning by inflicting multiple fouls and the champ hung tough to retain his title on a decision. The sight of Abraham continuing to throw punches as the blood poured from his mouth will stay with anyone who watched it. Two titanium plates and 22 screws were installed in the German fighter's jaw, and he spent three days in intensive care.

Result: Abraham UD 12

Jordan Gill

• Fight: Karim Guerfi
• Date: February 27, 2022
• Location: O2 Arena, London
• Injury: Double perforated eardrum

Jordan Gill had been floored in round seven and that was bad enough. However, seconds later, Karim Guerfi wrapped his arm around his opponent's neck and dropped him on his head. After all that, the Englishman had suffered two burst eardrums, a concussion, and a knee injury. With his equilibrium shot, Gill had no balance or shape, so he put his back against his own corner and counterpunched from that posture. It looked hopeless, but in the ninth, Gill threaded home a huge straight right to the jaw that knocked the Frenchman out cold. Without hyperbole, it was one of the best comebacks ever seen in a British ring.

Result: Gill KO 9