Tag Archives: charlo

Posted on 12/26/2019

By: Kirk Jackson

“I got the belt back and I didn’t leave it up to the judges,” – the bold, telling statement, from the two-time WBC junior middleweight champion Jermell “Iron Man” Charlo (33-1, 17 KO’s).

“Tony is a former champion. He had a lot on the line. I dominated and I knocked him out. It let him know that the power was real. 2020 is going to be real. It’s going to get loud.”

Powerful declarations from the champion. Charlo has legit power and he completed his task in retrieving the belt he lost the previous year. However, there is much to digest from his statement and far more to the story. 

He was accurate with reclaiming his title and 2020 has endless possibilities, regarding the impact he can have within the junior middleweight division. However, he was far from dominant against Tony “Super Bad” Harrison (28-3, 21 KO’s). 

Donned wearing Detroit Lions’ silver and blue, Harrison, in yet another attempt to troll Charlo, placed together a masterful boxing exhibition.

In a turn of events by comparison to their first encounter, Harrison was the aggressor – dictating range and controlling the pace for most of the fight.

When Charlo came out guns blazing in the opening rounds, even successfully scoring a knockdown towards the end of round two, Harrison regained his composure and steadily gained control of the fight. Calmness and confidence oozed from Harrison’s being, sometimes even to his detriment with how the fight turned out in the 11th round.

“I felt like I was doing whatever I really wanted to do before that,” Harrison said during the post-fight press conference. “And I felt like certain parts of the round, I felt like I was starting to break his will. You know what I mean? Because he started to come forward and I told myself like, ‘Look, you tough. You strong. Go for it. Let’s see him fighting on his back foot.’ And I made him do that damn near the whole night. I was catching a lot of his shots, and I pushed forward, man. Ain’t nothing else left to say, man. He earned it. Ain’t nothing else I can really say.The guy earned it. He was a champion for a reason. He earned it.”

This fight highlighted the strength and great attributes each fighter presents. Harrison displayed boxing skill at the highest level; operating off his jab at long-range, elite level defense and precision with his punches, along with the Detroit-grit to boldly trade shots inside the trenches and generally getting the better of the exchanges.

Charlo arguable displayed the greatest traits of all for this bout – consistency and focus. It was the focus which may have been revenge-based, that enabled his success so late in the fight.

“I brought out some things,” Charlo said. “I brought out more than just that old-style, walk-down type of fighter. Tony wanted to come forward. ‘Oh, OK. Come forward, so I can set some traps.’ I came forward, backed up, threw some body shots and just tried to do as much as I can to win that fight. I knew it was getting close. I didn’t want it to get close”

The body punching was a consistent stamp of success for Charlo and those were some of the punches landing with some regularity. 

“I knew it was some late rounds that he was edging. You know what I mean? And I didn’t want it to be that wicked feeling again. You know what I mean? So, I looked over at my brother, glanced over at him, seen him the only one moving in the crowd at that moment, and he was communicating with me through that twin shit. And he was telling me to step it up a little bit.”

Harrison harassed Charlo leading up to the fight and pressed the point of poking at Charlo’s inability to accept defeat. Many criticisms stewing from Harrison, may be viewed at fair assessments depending on who you ask.

It was more than bad blood in a way, the younger Charlo twin may have been forced to look at himself in the mirror, to reflect on who he is as a fighter and perhaps this sparked a measure of growth and maturity for one of the leaders of the Lions Only club.

Jermell’s character and resolve was tested before and throughout their second bout. It can be argued he was getting out boxed throughout the night. Observers can speculate whichever way they want and form opinions on the words and actions of the Houston native. But as of now, he displayed resolve in the rematch and accomplished his mission. Simba successfully returned to the Pride Lands.

The build-up leading up to the fight, the venomous back and forth between both sides and most importantly, the action across their second bout, warrants a third bout to cap the trilogy. 

“I know probably a big question is would you do a trilogy?” Charlo said. “Take that shit to pay-per-view. This could’ve easily been pay-per-view. You know what I mean? And Ontario did great. They showed up. FOX did an amazing job promoting, and all of the things we seen.”

According to Nielsen Media Research, Saturday’s edition of PBC on FOX averaged 1.415 million viewers, along with posting a 1.3 metered market rating. 

The 1.3 metered market rating; which is a sampling of overnight data collected from the top 44 U.S. televised markets, is tied for the second most-watched boxing telecast of the year, placing it alongside a March 9 card, featuring then WBC welterweight champion Shawn Porter, in a narrow win over Yordenis Ugas,also aired on FOX.

The viewership numbers justify a third bout and Harrison undoubtedly is all for it.

The PBC may have stumbled across a diamond in the rough with Harrison, as he essentially was the driving force for selling the fight. Displaying his gift of gab, he was the leading force controlling the press conferences and interviews leading up to the rematch.

Wearing his “Cornball” shirt, even while playing the villain role in this PBC drama, Harrison came across as the endearing force throughout this promotion. He came across as authentic and his output in the fight matched his verbal vitriol and energy leading up to the fight. 

Harrison may be regulated to contender in waiting status, but he has the skills of an elite fighter and his personality warrants more time across television. 

For Charlo, he mentioned a big year for 2020, so what is next? Theoretically, if Charlo and Harrison were to fight a third time, it’s highly unlikely that their rubber match would happen next. 

Word is Charlo is expected to pursue a 154-pound title unification bout with Julian “J-Rock” Williams (27-1-1, 16 KO’s, 1 NC), aka “The Landlord.” 

If Williams successfully defends his IBF and WBA titles against Jeison Rosario (19-1-1, 13 KO’s) on January 18 in Philadelphia, the most likely match-up in the aftermath will feature Charlo and Williams for all the marbles.

Which is an interesting storyline as Williams will aim to continue the family feud he has with the Charlos, having faced current WBC middleweight champion and older twin brother Jermall Charlo (30-0, 22 KO’s) back in 2016.

In regards to Harrison and Charlo saga, unification and potential history may take priority over a rubber match.

Harrison vs. Charlo II was one of the rare occasions in which the sequel was greater than the original. A potential third bout may be the best yet. 

Posted on 12/23/2019

By: Hans Themistode

When Jermell Charlo lost his WBC Jr Middleweight crown to Tony Harrison last year on the 22nd of December, it didn’t seem real. Most who saw the contest were in agreement that Charlo had done more than enough to bring home the victory. 

Fast forward roughly one year later, and the two met up once again. 

With all of the trash talking coming from the side of Tony Harrison, he turned many into believers. Before the two officially met in the ring, Charlo had one more thing to say to Harrison. 

“Get the smelling salts ready.” 

Boy was he not lying as he delivered three knockdowns on the night along with an 11th round stoppage.

The disdain that both men had for one another produced one of the best matches on the 2019 calendar. Now that it’s over, where does the now two time world champion go from here? Keep reading to find out. 

Erickson Lubin Rematch 

It almost seems hilarious for Charlo to grant a rematch to a man that he absolutely destroyed in the very first round when the two met up in 2017. Usually when you lose in the fashion in which Erickson Lubin did, you do whatever it takes to avoid facing off with that opponent anytime soon. Yet since the moment he picked up the first defeat of his career, Lubin has been calling for a rematch. 

When he realized that his words couldn’t get him what he wanted, Lubin began running through his competition. Four straight wins later, including three stoppages, Lubin has now fought his way to a healthy spot. 

Maybe the former ESPN prospect of the year was not ready when the two first squared off, but he certainly looks ready now.

Patrick Teixeira 

Talk about a single win changing everything. 

Patrick Teixeira was considered a fringe contender at best. He had the skills and the power but something seemed to be missing from his arsenal. Now that he is a world champion, he has seemingly put it all together. 

The now WBO titlist looks like one of the best fighters in the division. His championship win over the never before beaten Carlos Adames was impressive. Now that he has vaulted up the rankings and is in possession of a world title, both Charlo and Teixeira should look to unify next. 

It might be a bit difficult to put together due to them competing on different networks and for different promoters, but still, if they can somehow work out the political side of things, this matchup could be an explosive one.

Tony Harrison Part 3

Charlo may have gotten the recent win, but the scoreboard is still tied at one a piece. 

Sometimes when a fighter loses to a particular opponent and immediately wins the rematch, the first contest is viewed as a bit flukey. Just check out what Lennox Lewis did to both Hasim Rahman and Oliver McCall or even more recently, what Anthony Joshua did to Andy Ruiz Jr. 

Just because someone beats you the first time, it doesn’t mean it will happen again. In the case of Tony Harrison and Jermell Charlo, you can easily make the case that a third fight between them could go either way. The first two fights between them have been too good. We all need to see a third in 2020.

Posted on 12/21/2019

By: William Holmes

By: William Holmes

The Toyota Arena in Ontario, California was the host site for tonight’s Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) offering on the fox network.

The main event of the night was a rematch between Tony Harrison (28-2) and Jermell Charlo (32-1) for the WBC Junior Middleweight Title.  The co-main event was supposed to feature Guillermo Rigondeaux and Liborio Solis in the bantamweight division, but visa issues for Solis forced that fight to be cancelled.

The undercard was televised on Fox Sports 1, and featured a split draw between Huge Centeno Jr. and Juan Macias Montiel. Oscar Escandon also fought on the undercard and stopped Jhack Tepora in the first round.

The first fight on the Fox network was a lightweight bout between Rene Tellez Giron (13-1) and Karlos Balderas (9-0). 

Balderas is a 2016 Olympian but was actually three years older than his young and hungry opponent.

Balderas was taller and longer than his opponent, and started off landing clean jabs to the head and body on a pressuring Giron.

Giron was able to land some good punches in their exchanges in the second round and continued to land hard shots in the third.  A vicious left hand by Giron sent Balderas to the mat at the end of the round, and he stumbled back to his feet and barely beat the count of ten.  He stumbled backwards when the referee asked him to walk forward, but was allowed to continue into the next round. 

Giron continued to stay on the attack in the fourth and fifth rounds and was staying dedicated with his body attacks.  By the end of the fifth Giron had outlanded Balderas by twenty more punches.

The sixth round started with an accidental headbutt warning from the referee.  Giron was able to knock Balderas down again with a clean left hook to the chin.  Balderas was able to get up to his feet before the count of ten, but the referee waived the fight off.

Rene Giron scores the upset with a KO at 2:59 of the sixth round.

The next bout was a heavyweight fight between Efe Ajagba (11-0) and Iago Kiladze (26-4-1). 

Ajagba stuck with his jab early and had Kiladze wobbled at the end of the first from a stiff right hand.

Ajagba was landing heavy shots on Kiladze and sent him to the mat at the end of the second from another straight right.  Kiladze was in bad shape at the end of the round and on rubber legs. 

The third round was the best round of the night, as Ajagba was looking to finish the fight and had Kiladze wobbled from a straight right hand, but Kiladze landed a right of his own out of nowhere and sent Ajagba down to the mat.  Ajagba was able to survive the round.

Both boxers landed good shots in the fourth round, but Ajagba appeared to land the heavier punches. 

Ajagba scored another knockdown in the fifth round, but Kiladze got back to his feet and was allowed to continue.  Kiladze stumbled around for a few seconds before his corner threw in the towel. 

Ajagba wins a thrilling bout by KO at 2:09 of the fifth round.

Tony Harrison (28-2) and Jermell Charlo (32-1) met in the main event for the WBC Junior Middleweight Title.

Harrison and Charlo couldn’t even look at each other during fighter introductions.

Charlo came out aggressively in the opening two rounds by throwing wild bombs with reckless abandon.  Harrison grabbed on whenever Charlo got in tight, but was clipped by a two punch combination that momentarily sent him down in the second.

Harrison was calm going into the third round and fought defensively and smartly.  Harrison landed better punches on the inside and surprisingly continued to fight well in tight into the fourth and fifth rounds.

Harrison started to showboat in the sixth rounds and was blocking a lot of Charlo’s punches.  Harrison was a more measured fighter in the middle rounds while Charlo was a little more wild.

It was a close bout going into the ninth round with Harrison backing Charlo down while Charlo was throwing heavier but not as accurate punches.

The championship rounds featured similar action, with Harrison landing measured punches and Charlo landing more looping but hard shots. 

However, Charlo landed a vicious hook to the chin of Harrison and sent him violently to the mat.  Charlo followed it up with several hard uppercuts on Harrison by the ropes and sent him to the mat again.  The referee decided to let Harrison continue, but Charlo pressed forward with combinations and forced the referee to stop the bout.

Jermell Charlo wins by TKO at 2:28 of the eleventh round.

Posted on 12/20/2019

By: Hans Themistode

Around the same time last year, Detroit’s Tony “Super Bad” Harrison (28-2, 21 KO’s) played spoiler to the Charlo household. 

Starring as the Grinch, Harrison pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the year, placing a blemish on Jermell “Iron Man” Charlo’s (32-1, 16 KO’s) undefeated record while capturing the WBC junior middleweight title.

“It was a surreal moment for me, just recapping everything that happened to me and wishing that all the good people that were in my corner were there to see it and be there with me,” Harrison said. 

“I thought of everything that happened to me that was fucked up and I told God I understood why he put me through those things and I understood that he knew that I would get through it and would never lose faith. I was thanking him for all those times, all those moments that made me, me. It was never the good moments, it was always the bad, me being resilient through those moments and me taking that message out of every moment that everything bad happened to make me that man that night to win the fight.”

While Harrison believes he won based on his strategy and skill set; fighting effectively off his back foot, moving around the ring effectively controlling the range, distance, successfully feinting and displaying complete mastery of the jab, Harrison was able to pick his spots and pick apart Charlo. 

Charlo believes his aggression and power punching dictated the pace and controlled the fight.

“I definitely feel like I won that fight,” Charlo said in reference to the first bout. “I pulled out way more rounds than he did. But like I said, it’ll be a rematch and I promise you, like I’m gonnatrain harder, I’m gonna try to train different. I did a great job in training camp. I can’t take nothing away from what me, trainer Derrick James and everybody else game plan was,” said Jermell in a post-fight interview.

“I hit hard. You know what I mean?” Charlo said. “I use my power. A lot of people use their skills and use their – I have skills, I have power, I have speed.”

Watching the fight play out and having each fighter describe the punch-by-punch action in their own words, is significantbecause it provides great insight for the mentality of each fighter. Their reactions and analysis may foreshadow the game plan and mindset for each fighter entering the rematch.

Charlo is livid and seems like he carries around a luggage case containing anger. Harrison loves playing the spoiler and enjoys living “Rent-free” in Charlo’s head as the self-proclaimed troll.

The emotional elements of this match-up do more than draw up intrigue, but may influence the outcome of the fight. Are these temperamental components a plus or negative for Charlo heading into the rematch? Can he harness his intensity, ferocity and formulate the proper plan to exact revenge?

“I’m a passionate person,” Charlo said, in a recent PBC preview special. “I’m a winner. When they took that one from me, of course a passionate person is going to have a different reaction than he would have had. I found out where your heart was. I’ve been able to make more investment into myself to destroy you ever since then.”

“I don’t like ‘phony’ Harrison. It’s easy to explain why the rematch will be different. I’m knocking him out. I can’t let them judges make any decisions. That’s what I need. He’s going to sleep. Cold.”

If Charlo intends to achieve victory, he may have to change things this go-around. A complete overhaul may not be necessary, but an honest assessment and reflection may be key for Charlo progressing forward. While we’re officially awaiting part two to this saga, it seems like Harrison is yelling checkmate in regards to the mental warfare.

“When you’re from Detroit, it does something to you,” said Harrison. “It’s just that extra motivation when you’ve got somebody talking that shit to you and you’re talking it back.”

“I’ve been waiting for this my whole life and its fun to me. Living in Detroit, you gotta have the gift of gab, and that’s another art in itself. So I can talk my shit, and I’m destroying him by doing it. It’s fun and it spices things up. This is a good dinner with jalapenos on top.”

This weekend, Charlo aims to reverse roles and perform his best impression of the Grinch, in an effort to ruin the holiday season for Harrison.

The question remains if the Iron Man can adjust and implement a game-plan allowing greater success in the rematch. Can’t rely on athleticism and anger – which is what Harrison hinted at throughout the long build-up to this rematch.

Harrison aims to thwart off Charlo’s advances and remain the WBC junior middleweight champion once the smoke settles.

I think this relationship between me and him is one of the best relationships in boxing,” said Harrison. “You can’t fake it. It’s good for the sport that we really don’t like each other. And this is such a good fight. It doesn’t get much better than me and himand I want to keep topping that.”

Posted on 12/19/2019

By: William Holmes

On Saturday night the Toyota Arena in Ontario, California will be the host site for a highly anticipated WBC Junior Middleweight Title fight between Jermell Charlo and Tony Harrison.  Harrison was able to win a close bout over Charlo in their first fight, and Charlo is looking for revenge and to prove he’s still a top fighter in the junior middleweight division. 

Former world champion, Guillermo “El Chacal” Rigondeaux was set to face Liborio Solis in the co-main event of the evening in a bantamweight bout, but visa issues for Solis forced that fight to be cancelled.  Rigondeaux will no longer be fighting on Saturday.

Other bouts on the undercard include a heavyweight fight between Efe Ajagba and Isago Kiladze, a junior lightweight bout between Jhack Tepora and Oscar Escandon, and a super middleweight bout between Andre Dirrell and Juan Ubaldo Cabrera.  Other fighters on the undercard include Huge Centeno Jr., Juan Macias Montiel, Eimantas Stanionis, Karlos Balderas, and Adrian Taylor.

The following is a preview of the main event of the evening.

Tony Harrison (28-2) vs. Jermell Charlo (32-1); WBC Junior Middleweight Title

Tony Harrison and Jermell Charlo previously met in December of 2018, and featured a shocking upset as Harrison won by scores of 116-112, 115-113, and 115-113.  Most ringside observers felt Charlo won that bout, with scores as wide as 117-111 on some unofficial scorecards.

However, one year later Jermell Charlo gets to try and seek his revenge.  Unfortunately for Harrison, he has not fought since he defeated Charlo.  Charlo on the otherhand was able to face and defeat Jorge Cota before getting his rematch.

Harrison and Charlo are both 29 years old.  Harrison will have about a two inch height advantage and a three and a half inch reach advantage.

Harrison hasn’t fought yet in 2019, and fought three times in 2018 and twice in 2017.  Charlo fought once already in 2019, twice in 2018, and twice in 2017.

Both boxers were fairly successful on national amateur scene.  Harrison is a former US Golden Gloves Bronze Medalist.  Charlo won the Junior Olympics Bronze Medal.

Charlo’s only loss was to Tony Harrison.  His resume as a professional is impressive and he had defeated the likes of Jorge Cota, Austin Trout, Erickson Lubin, Charles Hatley, John Jackson, Jachim Alcine, Vanes Martirosyan, Gabriel Rosado, Demetrius Hopkins, and Harry Joe Yorgey. 

Harrison has lost to the likes of Willie Nelson and Jarrett Hurd, both by stoppage.  His wins aren’t as impressive as Charlo, but he has defeated the likes of Ishe Smith, George Sosa, Paul Valenzuela, Fernando Guerrero, Tyron Brunson, Bronco McKart, and Antwone Smith.

Even though Harrison won their first fight, most felt Charlo won.  Harrison’s inactivity since then will not help him and Charlo appears to be very motivated to win the rematch and re-establish himself as a champion.

This writer expects Charlo to win, convincingly, on Saturday night.

Posted on 12/08/2019

Jermall Charlo defends belt for second time; Eubank Jr. awarded middleweight title

By Robert Aaron Contreras.

On Saturday, defending middleweight champion Jermall Charlo (30-0, 22 KO) orchestrated a much-needed knockout. Doing so, he defended his WBC title for the second time as he knocked down Dennis Hogan (28-3-1, 7 KO) two times, wrapping up the show in the seventh round, headlining Showtime’s latest billing from Brooklyn, New York. 

Charlo didn’t mind giving away the first couple rounds to Hogan, an undersized challenger to be sure but one with spunk. From the beginning the undefeated beltholder planned on relying on his power-punching. His heavy hands made their first appearance in the fourth round, stunning Hogan with a slashing left uppercut that sent the Australian transplant tumbling over. Hogan again went headlong overboard in the seventh period from a winging hook.

“I was trying to take him out with every punch,” Charlo told Jim Gray in the ring. “We’ve been working on it. My power prevailed tonight.”

The finish marked the first KO loss of Hogan’s career. Born with a real beard, he took everything junior middleweight titlist Jaime Munguia had for him in his previous outing. That Hogan’s majority-decision loss was branded one of the biggest robberies of the year provided him with an immediate return to the title stage.

Early on, Hogan made the most of the opportunity. His cavorting and potshotting that previously befuddled Munguia also secured a lead over Charlo through the opening six minutes. But Hogan’s redemption arc turned dire when Charlo got his timing down. Charlo established the center of the ring in the third round and Hogan was left leading with his head into the champion in hopes of connecting with flailing overhand rights. Closing that distance only did Charlo favors as the Texas-born puncher countered with short, lead left hooks and uppercuts. Eventually landing a left hand to the challenger’s chin just seconds into the fourth round: Hogan not only gfell onto the seat of his pants but continued spilling over backwards.

Pulling himself together for the fifth round, Hogan tossed out some chippy body jabs but was continually in danger of sweeping left hooks from Charlo. The champ was zeroing in on more money shots. Headhunting at times, he was at his best extending out a left jab and driving right crosses into his opponent’s face.

Charlo continued firing sniper rounds in the sixth stanza. His combinations became less creative but he still came out on top in every exchange. Walking Hogan down, the brawler predictably rushed directly into charging hooks and slinging uppercuts.

Then 15 seconds into Round 7, dynamite. A jab feint froze up Hogan for a left hook that mashed into his face. He got up on shaky legs but a quick look from referee Charlie Fitch confirmed no more punishment was necessary.

Retaining his title in convincing fashion was Charlo’s only choice following a rough start to 2019. In June he was extended the distance by the unheralded Brandon Adams—unable to mount significant offense against an unranked journeyman. Now racking up another knockout—albeit against a natural super welterweight—Charlo needs to aim high. Much higher.

“The middleweight division is wide open,” Charlo claimed. “I’m here to fight whoever.”

So we’ll see.

Interim titles decided in co-main events

Early in the second round, a grimace stretched across the face of Matt Korobov (28-3-1, 14 KO); he shuffled away from Chris Eubank Jr. (29-2, 22 KO) and threw his right hand in the air as if to call timeout. A visit from the physician revealed a shoulder injury, ending the fight soon after. It was an abrupt ending. But nonetheless an official TKO for Eubank, who became the interim WBA middleweight champion.

Korobov, 36, took the first round, It was a decisive three minutes for the older man, comfortable playing the underdog role to a man with a legendary bloodline. The Russian southpaw plugged away at Eubank with straight left hands. That Korobov, known for jumping on his opposition early, would sprint out to an early lead wasn’t surprising. But a bombshell awaited the boxing world in the next stanza.

Eubank, 30, came out for Round 2 levelheaded. Conditioned to the fight the distance, he didn’t get to throw a meaningful punch. And wouldn’t need to. Korobov continued bayoneting left hands before, just 34 seconds into the inning, his shoulder came undone.

Not even four minutes of action, even Eubank couldn’t find an honest takeaway from such a short contest.

“I was literally about to get my swag on,” Eubank said. “There’s nothing to take from the fight—I threw like two or three punches. It is what it is… This isn’t the dream I had making my debut here. I wanted to have a knockout and make a statement.” 

Eubank has now won three in a row since a wide loss to George Groves in the semifinals of the World Boxing Super Series.

Before that, Marlon Tapales (33-3, 16 KO) was on the receiving end of a careening left hand from Ryosuke Iwasa (27-3, 17 KO) in the penultimate round that left the former champion rattled, unable to keep a straight face for the referee, who called the fight at 1:09 of Round 11. 

Iwasa, two fights removed from previously holding the IBF crown, swatted at his short opponent throughout their contest for the interim 122-pound title. He was technically awarded another knockdown in the third round when Tapales dropped to a knee from an obvious headbutt. That’s not to say Tapales didn’t give it back to the Japanese southpaw here and there, flinging around a ferocious overhand left of his own. But one with little variety or systematic means.

Daniel Roman, the sitting super bantamweight champion, is set to return from injury in the first half of next year. Iwasa’s win puts him directly in line to meet Roman and shed his interim status.

Posted on 12/06/2019

By Robert Aaron Contreras

Two years ago, Jermall Charlo (29-0, 21 KO) assumed a lot in jumping from the super welterweight division to middleweight. Not only appropriating the nickname of one Tommy Hearns—billing himself as the new “Hitman”—but the lofty expectations that come with it. While his initial run as done little to evoke the image of Hearns, Charlo is this weekend back in the ring in defense of his WBC title against surprise contender Dennis Hogan (28-2-1, 7 KO) on Dec. 7.

Charlo, 29, faces Hogan in the main event of a Barclays Center bill in Brooklyn, New York that includes three world title fights. The championship contests represents both the undefeated American’s third title defense and third start in Brooklyn.

Photo Credit: Brooklyn Boxing Twitter Account

Just his second fight of the year, Charlo showed concern in his two previous outings. He has not demonstrated the same might that he flexed over the 154-pounds class. That he was extended the full 12 rounds by a nondescript challenger in Brandon Adams was bad enough but Charlo was continually prevented from landed much of anything cleanly. Every round belonged to him, winning by unanimous decision, but his offense was waning by the final two rounds.

Before that, Charlo fought evenly with Matvey Korobov (who appears on the same card). The result was not so shocking given the Russian’s violent reputation but it was disappointing nonetheless. Between Jermall and his brother, he has generally been considered the more fearsome of the two. Demonstrated tenfold by a huge fifth-round knockout over Julian Williams, who later unified the division. However there have been fewer fireworks from Charlo at 160 pounds.

He bashed up Jorge Heiland, who had long been worthy of a title shot, but the Argentinian brawler was visibly injured, limping around the ring. With little balance under him, Charlo ended the feeble challenger’s night in four rounds.

The Charlo bros have never been shy. Echos of “lions only” continues to make for soundbites. But talking a big game has a soother ring to it when the results are equally resounding. Charlo’s blamed his uninspiring effort over Adams on a hand injury. Excuses never go over well with boxing fandom, never sweet to the ear. As a peculiar encore Charlo heads back into the spotlight against a man coming off a loss, a loss that requires context, but a loss nonetheless that came in a lower weight category.

Hogan, 34, is a Australia-based Irish workhorse. This April Hogan had the misfortune of meeting Jaime Munguia in Mexico and was subsequently robbed of championship gold. Despite a middling run over the majority of his career, Hogan blew up Munguia’s homecoming, flinging a mean right hand, and exposing the Golden Boy Promotional star’s inaptitude for cutting off the ring. The underdog clearly edged out the champ in the opening couple rounds as well as the entirety of the action from the seventh round on.

A robbery plain and simple, the WBO still rejected Hogan’s appeal. Nearing his mid-30s, that would close the book on the careers of most veterans. But Charlo is need of a squash match, some kind of redeeming performance. So Hogan is back on the title stage. Charlo’s team is banking on the assumption Hogan’s last performance was a fluke.

If they’re right, there’s not much to be gained. If they’re wrong, that much more will be lost.

Interim belt on the line between Iwasa and Tapales

Though it is a damn shame a fine champion like Daniel Roman is on the shelf until next year, it’s always welcome consolation that a southpaw melee shapes up like the one between former belt-holders Marlon Tapales (33-2, 16 KO) and Ryosuke Iwasa (26-3, 16 KO) for the IBF interim strap.

Iwasa, 29, once enjoyed status as world champion. After a failed title bid in 2015, two years later, the Japanese warrior pulverizing his countryman Yukinori Oguni into such a bloody mess that it took the ringside physician to call things in the sixth round. One defense followed before Iwasa ran into TJ Doheny, who took his belt before losing it to Roman. Part and parcel for Iwasa, he turned in another violent affair with Cesar Juarez, and the judges were on his side when the eliminator was ended on a cut.

Tapales, 27, has had a lot more time to think about the loss of his belt. It was on the scales not in the ring. Dethroning Pungluang Sor Singyu in brutal fashion did nothing to motivate Tapales for a successful weigh-in ahead of his first scheduled title defense. The Pinoy bombardier still pounded away at Shohei Omori for an eleventh-round stoppage. But he went quit fighting just once in 2018.

Now with Manny Pacquiao as a promoter behind him, Tapales punched in two knockouts this year alone and should be prepared for another. Because the KO finish is coming. In there with a fellow lefty banger, whether that’s in his favor is to be decided.

Eubank Jr. arrives stateside

Talented, freewheeling, and bred for the limelight, Chris Eubank Jr. (28-2, 21 KO) is back where he belongs: in the middleweight division and on centerstage, in the United States where boxing stardom awaits like nowhere else.

His first official fight at 160 pounds since 2016, Eubank makes his debut on American soil opposite perennial contender Matt Korobov (28-2-1, 14 KO). The exciting British swarmer took the IBF belt off James DeGale earlier this year but never looked like an imposing force in the super middleweight ranks.

Having just turned 30, Eubank is smart not to waste anymore time at 168 pounds. His signature wins in the weight class have come at the expense of aging fighters. First he outworked a 37-year-old Arthur Abraham to a decision victory then seemed outclassed at the hands of George Groves before defeating James DeGale who clearly had one foot out the door, retiring immediately afterwards.

Korobov, 37, is the older of the two. He maintains a high standing in the division despite his having not win a fight since early 2018. He lost a bid for the WBC belt against Jermall Charlo, but as was previously mentioned, hacked away to steal the first half of the bout. It came at a cost as the Russian’s offense deflated in the latter stages. It could be called a poor gas tank. Korobov was also running away with the cards his most recent fight, in what would turn out to be a majority-decision draw, with Immanuwel Aleem, after again losing all momentum in the final three rounds.

On paper, chances lean toward Eubank. Younger, carrying more momentum and a distinct advantage in conditioning, the British slugger lives on jumping his opponents in the closing frames. Oddsmakers are on top of it, listing “Junior” the two-to-one favorite.

Posted on 12/03/2019

By: Hans Themistode

Jermall Charlo will once again look to end yet another year with a bang.

This Saturday night at the Barclay Center in Brooklyn, New York, Charlo is set to take on Dennis Hogan. If the name of Charlo’s opponent sounds familiar, it should. Hogan (28-2-1, 7 KOs) is fresh off a highly controversial loss at the hands of Jaime Munguia back in April, earlier this year. The contest took place at in the Jr Middleweight division.

Although Hogan will officially be moving up in weight to take on Charlo, he shouldn’t be considered the smaller man. Sure, he is stepping into this contest against Charlo with a four inch height disadvantage and a ridiculous five inch reach deficit, but he is by no means a small man. The Ireland born Hogan has fought as high Light Heavyweight in his career and will look to make a statement.

Charlo (29-0, 21 KOs) isn’t oblivious to any of this. Since starting his career back in 2008, he has done nothing but win.

With a plethora of contenders and champions in the Middleweight division, many have wondered exactly why Charlo isn’t taking on a more notable name. According to the WBC belt holder, not many are willing to jump into the ring with him.

“Dennis Hogan is a guy who can fight and he has a great skill set,” said Charlo. He’s going to be someone who’s going to be right there and ready to fight.”

The styles of both fighters is sure to lead to a memorable night of boxing. With this being Charlo’s fourth fight in his last five at the Barclay Center, it’s safe to say that he has grown a certain fondness of the arena. Yet, it isn’t just the Barclay Center, but it is also the city of Brooklyn in which Charlo has really turned into his home away from home.

“I love Brooklyn,” said Charlo. “It’s almost my second home here. Lately I’ve been fighting here and I’ve had some explosive knockouts in Brooklyn along with going 12 rounds in Brooklyn as well. It’s been a journey. You have to stay tuned. PBC and Showtime has done an amazing job of bringing some great fights to Brooklyn and I just happened to be apart of it. I like to call it Brooklyn-Texas.”

Charlo may have all of his attention on Dennis Hogan, but he has certainly heard the chatter from another fighter in his division. One that just so happens to be fighting on the same card as him.

“I hear the things that Chris Eubank Jr says, but I’m not from the U.K. I’m from Houston Texas. We don’t play that around here. Everybody that talks about Jermall Charlo has to live up to it.”

Before we all begin to fantasize about what a potential matchup between Charlo and Eubank Jr would possibly look like, both men have to get past their respective opponents come Saturday night.

“I’m fully focused on Dennis Hogan. I’m not looking past him at all. December 7th, on Showtime, it’s going to be an explosive night. I promise to give Dennis Hogan something to remember for the rest of his night.”

Posted on 11/26/2019

By: Sean Crose

It’s really all about family these days,” says Jermall Charlo in the leadup to his December 7th bout against Dennis Hogan at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center. “I’m fighting even harder for my family now. I feel like I’m on cloud nine and on top of the world right now. We’ve been ready for the arrival of my daughter and I’m so happy she’s here in time to see her father fight on December 7.” The WBC middleweight champion, new dad, and twin brother of successful fighter Jermell Charlo, will be making the second defense of his title, which he won by besting Matvey Korobov last year.

One thing Charlo likes to make clear is that he aims to be exciting in the ring. “You hear fighters say that they’re not going for the knockout, but I am,” the 29-0 titlist says. “If I hit Hogan with something flush, he’s going to sleep. I’m in shape. I’m strong. I’m going for the knockout if it’s there. If he thinks he can bully me, then I’ll show him he made a big mistake. I’m back where I want to be. It took me a little while to fill out into a true middleweight, but I’m here now.”

Hogan, of course, has plans of his own for next Saturday night. At 28-2-1, the Australian – by way of Ireland – gave Jaime Munguia all Munguia could ask for when they met last April. In fact, it’s arguable that Munguia got a gift with his decision win. Still, Charlo says he’s prepared. “I know everything about Hogan,” he says. “I know he’s been in Florida thinking that he’s getting ready for me. He has no idea. He’s a small slugger who’s got to worry about his weight, but I’m going sit right there and fight with Hogan. I’m not going anywhere. My mind is sharper than his also, but if he wants to make it a brawl, I’m ready.”

Charlo is also ready – and eager – to once again ply his trade at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center. “Everybody in Brooklyn knows when we come there, we come to shut it down,” he says. “We’re bringing the heat! I love Barclays Center and I’m glad to be back fighting where I’m extremely comfortable. That’s my house in Brooklyn and everyone there is going to get a chance to see that I’m back for real.”

Although many people focus on eating and celebrating around Thanksgiving, Charlo is of another vein. “I haven’t had a fight away from Thanksgiving in years, so I’m just totally used to it at this point,” the titlist said. “My personal chef is going to cook me exactly what I need to enjoy the holidays with my family.” Winning at a championship level, after all, requires discipline.

Charlo-Hogan will be aired live on Showtime as part of a card that includes Chris Eubank Jr, the aforementioned Korobov, Ryosuke Iwasa, and Marlon Tapales. The broadcast will begin at 9 PM, Eastern Standard Time.

Posted on 11/17/2019

By: Hans Themistode

With Jermell Charlo and Tony Harrison officially set to share the ring once again, the two continued to show exactly why their December 21st rematch, will be nothing but fireworks. 

The scene from their press conference to promote their event was filled with f bombs, shouting matches and long stares. It’s a long cry from their first conference back in late 2018. At the time, Charlo was the undefeated WBC Jr Middleweight champion and seemed poised to continue his meteoric rise. 

When the two met for the first time at a conference in Brooklyn, Charlo and Harrison was actually complimentary of one another. Harrison, praising Charlo for his true championship attitude while also being grateful for the opportunity to compete against him. While Charlo on the other hand gave credit to Harrison for his boxing ability and the things he has done in his community of Detroit. 

After 12 rounds of boxing on December 22nd, the boxing world was shocked when Harrison pulled off the stunning upset, winning by unanimous decision. Now that the two are set to do it again, they can end the debate of who exactly is the better fighter. 

Although this bout will take place in just over a month, they were originally set to square off on June 23rd. An ankle injury however, sidelined Harrison. Or at least, that was the belief. Charlo never believed for one second that Harrison was actually hurt. 

The new WBC champion has since denied those allegations. However, for some inexplicable reason, he seemingly admitted to faking the injury during the conference. 

“Pull out the fight with an injury and put on a boot,” admitted Harrison. He also added that he wasn’t actually hurt either.

It sounds as if Harrison admitted to faking the entire injury doesn’t it? Don’t place too much thought into the words of Harrison. He seems to enjoy getting under the skin of Charlo time and time again. 

“I’m living in his head,” said Harrison. 

As for Charlo on the other hand. He doesn’t believe that what Harrison said was a joke. It only confirmed his original thought process of Harrison pulling out of the contest just to prolong their rematch. 

“He told you in Mexico that he had ligament damage He didn’t have surgery. What you think about that?” Said Charlo. “He didn’t have surgery, he supposedly pulled out of a fight before the fight, and he talked a whole bunch of shit at this press conference…then all the sudden he didn’t come out June 23rd to fight me, because he had to have surgery and faked the injury and I put it out on blast. Now he comes outs saying he’s good to go — what was the purpose of pausing? ‘Cause you thought that maybe I need to fight someone else? I did. I blasted him in three, sleeped him in three. All he did was added fuel to the fire. The torch is lit. And if you put that torch next to gas, what happen? Everything else catch on fire, and his ass his gas, and we finna blaze his motherfuckin’ ass. That’s it! It’s what I say and how I feel. And if he like it or not, he gotta deal with it. I’m not gonna stop being who I am. I won that first fight.” 

Things between these two have gotten very personal to say the least. What started off as a healthy rivalry, has turned into an all out war. Thankfully for boxing fans, the war of words is over and these two can settle their differences in the ring once and for all.

Posted on 09/13/2019

By: Hans Themistode

The 2018 boxing schedule was filled with huge upsets. One particular fight that possibly led the upset pack was when former WBC Jr Middleweight champion Jermell Charlo took on Tony Harrison just a few days before Christmas at the Barclay Center in Brooklyn, New York.

It was supposed to be a quick night for Charlo. He was regarded as the best fighter in the division and was headed towards a unification showdown with former unified champion Jarrett Hurd. Since Charlo won his title back in 2016, he looked sensational in every title defense. He obliterated the highly touted Erickson Lubin in the first round when they matched up in 2017. He followed that up by scoring two knockdowns against former champion Austin Trout en route to a decision victory.

Harrison had no chance. His two losses came via stoppage and there was reason to believe that he was headed towards another knockout loss at the hands of Charlo. The fight played out a bit differently than what many were expecting. Harrison didn’t just stay up right throughout the entire fight, but he also made it very competitive. At times, he dominated. Still, as the fight went to the scorecards, many believed that Charlo had done more than enough to win. When Harrison was announced as the winner it sent shockwaves throughout the entire boxing world.

Charlo didn’t take long to exercise his rematch clause to win back his belt. Unfortunately, Harrison was forced to withdraw the first time around because of an ankle injury, which forced Charlo to knockout his replacement opponent Jorge Cota. Now that Harrison seems to be fully healed there, seems to be a new date set for their rematch.

Courtesy of Jermell Charlo’s Instagram, he revealed the news of a deal being reached between the two. He kept it short and sweet when regarding the rematch he has been waiting for.

“December 21st… Nothing he can do !!! NO RESPECT SEASON”

Accompanying Charlo’s statement, was a picture of their first contest. Where this contest will take place is yet to be known as of yet but that detail is sure to be released soon.

What’s most interesting about this event is the date, as it is one day earlier than their original contest last year. Both men have been vocal since they have shared the ring.

Even with a championship around his waist, Harrison was never given the respect he felt he deserved.

“There were three championship judges who all said I won,” said Harrison during an interview a few months back. “I don’t pay attention to what Jermell has to say but I can’t wait to beat him again and prove to everyone that I am the champion now.”

With the rematch seemingly all set, we all can finally decide who is the better fighter between the two.

Posted on 07/03/2019

By: Hans Themistode

On June 29th the Middleweight division had two of their youngest stars on full display. WBC champion Jermall Charlo (29-0, 21 KOs) and WBO title holder Demetrius Andrade (28-0, 17 KOs) successfully defended their crowns.

For Charlo, he easily dispatched of Brandon Adams. Andrade on the other hand, pitched a shutout against former title challenger Maciej Sulecki. Both of these performances were eerily similar.

For starters, both men fought in front of their hometown fans. Providence, Rhode Island for Andrade while Charlo performed in front of a ruckus crowd in Houston Texas. Neither man managed to score the knockout but they dominated from start to finish. Adams managed to win one single round in his fight against Charlo while Sulecki wasn’t awarded any rounds in his contest. In short, these men put on impresive performances.

It isn’t just their most recent performances that shows some glaring similarities, but its also their measurables as well. Both champions have a standing reach of 73 and a half inches. There isn’t much of a difference in terms of height either with Andrade standing at six feet one and Charlo at six feet even.

The Middleweight division is quite possibly the most star studded division in all of boxing. With names such as Canelo Alvarez, Gennady Golovkin and Daniel Jacobs its understandable. However non of them, with the exception of Canelo seems to have a higher upside.

The question begs to be asked, who exactly deserves a shot at the consensus best fighter in the division, Canelo Alvarez. Both men have clamored for a shot against the cinnamon headed unified champion. Each have a case to be chosen next, but who is more deserving? It’s hard to say as they are both supremely talented.

There is one simple way to decide, have them fight one another. With non of the other top tier fighters of their division in a rush to enter the ring with them, it is time for them to step into the ring against one another.

For years a bout between these have been discussed but never materialized. With both men associated with different networks, a fight between these two doesn’t appear likely. With that being said however, they need each other, now more than ever.

Posted on 07/02/2019

By: Hans Themistode

WBC Middleweight champion Jermall Charlo (29-0, 21 KOs) put on a great performance in front of his hometown crowd down in Houston Texas. He easily dispatched of Brandon Adams (21-3, 13 KOs) via unanimous decision. It was the first time that Charlo was defending his WBC title. During the contest, he showed that he not only has power but that he also can box his way to victory as well.

The loud, brash and confident Houston native needs a big fight for his next ring appearance. Or at the very least he needs to take on a credible name at the division in order to truly announce his presence. Who exactly should he take on next? Keep reading to find out.

Daniel Jacobs

Although Daniel Jacobs (35-3, 29 KOs) lost his last outing against Canelo Alvarez, he is still one of the very best Middleweights in the world. There is a belief that Jacobs has outgrown the division and will be looking to move up.

If a title opportunity presented itself however, he could be tempted to stick around. Charlo and Jacobs have a bit of a history of animosity towards one another. This is a fight that would sell itself. With the styles that both of these men possess, there will be no shortage of fireworks.

Sergiy Derevyanchenko

Jermall Charlo is a terrific young fighter, but he still needs a bit of seasoning. A matchup with Sergiy Derevyanchenko (13-1, 10 KOs) is what he should be aiming for. The former title challenger is chomping at the bit to get another crack at a world title.

Although he has just 14 fights under his belt he is well known for his amateur pedigree. Derevyanchenko would present a major step up in class for Charlo, but at this point its sink or swim. Let’s see what the WBC champion is made of.

Gennady Golovkin

A fight with former champion Gennady Golovkin (39-1-1, 35 KOs) would be tricky. Both fighters are on opposite sides of the street, so coming up with an agreement to fight would be a difficult one. However, if it can be made then this should be next for Charlo.

It was once believed that a fight between these two was to high risk and too little of a reward for Golovkin. Now that Charlo is the owner of the WBC title, it could entice Golovkin to step in to the ring with him. This one may seem farfetched but for the fans sake, let’s hope this one gets made next.

Posted on 06/30/2019

By: Sean Crose

After making the puzzling and controversial decision to elevate Canelo Alvarez to “Franchise Champion,” the WBC decided this past week that the 28-0 Jermall Charlo was to subsequently become its middleweight champion. Therefore, Charlo defended his title for the first time Saturday in front of a hometown crowd at the NRG Arena in Houston, Texas. Charlo’s opponent was the 21-2 Brandon Adams, who was the season five winner of The Contender. The bout was scheduled for 12 rounds, and was aired live on Showtime. First, however, fans witnessed the 20-1 Erickson Lubin face the 29-6-2 Zakaria Attou in a WBC junior middleweight eliminator. That fight, too, was scheduled to be a 12 round affair.

The fight completely belonged to Orlando’s Lubin, who was clearly more skilled than Paris’ Attou. In between the third and fourth round, Showtime’s translator made it clear that Attou was claiming he was injured to his corner. Attou was sent down in the fourth. The Frenchman was able to get up, but his corner threw in the towel, thus ending the bout. Lubin is now looking forward to bigger things in the junior middleweight division, although he made it clear immediately after the bout that he knew a title shot wouldn’t be next.

It was time for the main event. The first round essentially saw Charlo stalking his man. Adams proved difficult to land cleanly on in the second, but didn’t launch much of an offensive assault himself. The third round made it clear that Adams could land his jab effectively – he just wasn’t landing it enough. At the end of the chapter, things got a bit rough on the ropes, and Charlo seemed to land clean just before the bell. The fourth saw some action, as Charlo tried to land clean – but couldn’t with any frequency – while Adams pressed the fight without landing with great regularity, either.

The fifth round was entertaining, as both men gave it their all. It looked as if Charlo had perhaps hurt his man, but Adams composed himself gamely. In the sixth, both man landed effectively, and with power, and arguably hurt one another. In the seventh, a narrative became clear – that Charlo was simply the stronger man. Had Adams been stronger, his clean shots might have helped tell a different story. Charlo continued to control the tempo in the eighth. Adams moved his head a great deal in the ninth, while he moved forward with some success.

By the tenth it was obvious that – although Adams had considerable defensive skills – he didn’t have enough tools in his arsenal to get the better of Charlo. Adams had his man against the ropes in the eleventh, but the stronger Charlo was able to work his way out of the situation. The twelfth and final round saw Charlo walking away with the fight. The defending champion was awarded a unanimous decision win.

Earlier in the broadcast, Claudio Marrero bested Eduardo Ramirez by unanimous decision in a 12 round WBA featherweight title eliminator.

Posted on 06/27/2019

By: William Holmes

On Saturday night the NRG Arena in Houston, Texas will be the host site for Jermall Charlo’s WBC Interim Middleweight Title Defense against Brandon Adams.

The fight card will be presented by Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions and will be televised live on Showtime.

The co-main event of the evening will be between Erickson Lubin and Zakaria Attou in a WBC Junior Middleweight Title eliminator.

The undercard will feature fighters such as Eduardo Ramirez, Claudio Marrero, Miguel Flores, Cesar Cantu, and Omar Juarez.

The following is a preview of the co-main event and main event of the evening.

Erickson Lubin (20-1) vs. Zakaria Attou (29-6-2); WBC Junior Middleweight Eliminator

Erickson Lubin is a young professional with a decorated amateur background from the United States. Lubin is a former US PAL Champion and a US National Golden Gloves Champion. Zakaria Attou is fourteen years his elder and has no notable amateur background.

That alone tells you this fight is likely a big mismatch.

Attou will have a slight one and a half inch height advantage over Lubin and has been a more active fighter. The one knock against Lubin is that for a twenty three year old boxer he hasn’t been very active. He only fought once in 2019, once in 2018, and twice in 2017. Attou fought once in 2019, twice in 2018, and three times in 2017.

Lubin also has a clear edge in power. Attou only has seven stoppage victories while Lubin has stopped fifteen of his opponents.

Attou is riding a seven fight win streak, but he has beaten no notable opponents. His most impressive victories have come against Stefano Castellucci, Orlando Fiordigiglio, and Emanuele Della Rosa. His losses were to the unheralded Roberto Santos, Frank Haroche, Ludovic Duval, Jonathan Bertonnier, Faycal Karkour, and Francois Riopedre.

Lubin has defeated the likes of Ishe Smith, Jorge Cota, Juan Cabrera, and Alexis Camacho. His lone loss was a KO loss to Jermell Charlo.

This is a fight that Lubin should win easily.

Jermall Charlo (28-0) vs. Brandon Adams (21-2); WBC Interim Middleweight Title

The main event will be a title fight between the undefeated Jermall Charlo and the winner of Season Five of the Contender, Brandon Adams.

Both boxers are still in their athletic prime at the age of twenty nine years old. Charlo will have a three inch height advantage and about a three and a half inch reach advantage over Adams.

Charlo does appear to have an edge in power as he has stopped twenty one of his opponents while Adams has only stopped thierteen of his opponents.

Charlo fought twice in 2018 and once in 2017. Adams fought four times in 2018, due to his participation in the Contender, but did not fight at all in 2017 or in 2016.

Charlo also has an edge in amateur experience. He had a record of 65-6 as an amateur while Adams only fought as an amateur for two years.

Charlo’s list of defeated opponents includes Matvey Korobov, Huge Centeno Jr., Jorge Sebastian Heiland, Julian Williams, Austin Trout, Wilky Campfort, and Cornelius Bundrage.

Adams has defeated the likes of Shane Mosley Jr., Eric Walker, Ievgen Khytrov, and Tyrone Brunson. His losses were to John Thompson and Willie Monroe Jr.

Adams is a live dog and his win on the Contender included several good prospects, but Charlo is a much more experienced fighter with a significant height and reach advantage over Adams.

Charlo might not stop Adams, but he should win the decision.