Golovkin knocked down Derevyanchenko in the first round, opened a cut near his right eye in the second, and then held on from there in a fight where the longtime 160-pound ruler absorbed plenty of the type of punishing shots he used to deliver.

"This was a tough fight," Golovkin said. "I need a little bit more. I need to still get stronger in my camp. Just more serious. I need to work hard. I need a little bit more focus."

But the 37-year-old did just enough to win 115-112 on two cards and 114-113 on the other, claiming the belt that was vacated by Canelo Alvarez, who handed Golovkin (40-1-1, 35 KOs) his only loss.

The Associated Press scored it 115-112 for Golovkin.

Derevyanchenko (13-2) fell just short in his second attempt to win the middleweight title, having lost by split decision to Danny Jacobs last year, also at Madison Square Garden.

Many of the same fans who cheered Golovkin wildly before the fight and chanted "Triple G! Triple G!" when it looked as if he needed a boost in the 10th as Derevyanchenko rained combinations to his head booed the decision.

Golovkin was credited with a 243-230 advantage in punches by Compubox, which said Derevyanchenko landed the most punches in any of the 25 Golovkin fights it had tracked.

"Right now it's bad day for me. It's a huge day for Sergiy, his team," Golovkin said. "This is huge experience for me. Right now I know what I need exactly."

It was Golovkin's second straight win after he had a draw and a loss in his two fights with Alvarez, close bouts in which many people thought he won at least one of them. But plenty more thought he could have lost this one, after Derevyanchenko rallied strongly from a bad start to the fight.

Golovkin wants a third fight with Alvarez but he would have to be much sharper if he gets it - or if he has a rematch with Derevyanchenko - than he was Saturday.

He was frequently beaten to the punch by Derevyanchenko, who ignored the cut and Golovkin's vaunted power to nearly pull off the upset.

"The cut really changed the fight. I couldn't see at times," Derevyanchenko said. "And he was targeting the eye. But no excuses, it is what it is, I was trying my best."

Australian Associated Press