Jermell Charlo unified the WBC/WBA/IBF Junior Middleweight world title with an 8th round stoppage over Jeison Rosario that highlighted a night that saw five world title fights at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut.
Charlo dominated the action as he dropped Rosario in the 1st round with a left to the body. That was a foreshadow of things to come as he dropped Rosario again in round six, and the final which came 21 seconds into round eight which came from a jab to the body that sent Rosario in pain.
Charlo, 153.8 lbs of Houston is 34-1 with 18 knockouts. Rosario, 153.4 lbs of Santo Domingo DR is 20-2-1.
Quotes:
Jermell Charlo:
“I definitely proved that I’m more than just a puncher, but I also showed again that I’m a big puncher. I’d give myself an A tonight. I stuck to my game plan and listened to my coach. Everything we did in camp, I used it in this fight. I pushed myself the whole way through training camp. It’s been a journey for me. I’m bringing the straps home to my family like they told me to.
“I knew that he was going to keep coming after the first knockdown. He kept pressing for four or five rounds until I floored him again. I’m growing and learning that the knockout just comes. I know that I have explosive power in both hands. I utilized my jab more than any other punch in this fight and that’s what got me these straps.
“Rosario hits hard, but if you have to know how to wear a fighter down. That’s how you take the power out of him.
“I think some of the previous punches I landed hurt him before the jab. The body shot that landed just hit the right point. I wish him well. I give any man who steps into the ring respect. I hope he recovers and bounces back.
“It’s Lions Only forever. We’ve been doing this for a long time. Dreams do come true. This is a part of my dream and a part of my destiny. I’m satisfied and I’m happy.
“I know right now that I’m going to talk with the sanctioning bodies and see what’s next. I’m holding the crown. I’m the king. We’ll see what’s next.”
Nery Decisions Alameda to win Super Bantamweight Title
Luis Nery won the WBC Super Bantamweight title with a 12-round unanimous decision over Aaron Alameda.
It was a close fight that saw each guy taking turns having their moments. Nery was focused on power punching and pressuring while Alameda worked behind a solid jab.
Nery Outlanded Alameda 180-177.
Nery, 121.4 lbs of Tijuana, MEX won by scores of 115-113, 116-112 and 118-110, ad is now 31-0. Alameda, 121.6 lbs of Nogales, MEX is 25-1.
Quotes:
Nery:
“Alameda has a nice jab, he definitely connected, but I always felt like I had the fight under control. His defense was good, but at the end I really tightened up my attack and was able to get the victory.
“We know he had a lot of experience as an amateur, so we prepared for a quality opponent. It’s not an excuse, but I haven’t fought in a year, so I think that affected my performance a little.
“I got the victory because I landed more. You always look for the knockout, but he used the jab a lot and that threw me off a little bit until I was able to connect more at the end of the fight.
“There are a lot of good fighters in this division. Brandon Figueroa’s name has come up, but we’ll check with the team and go from there. We’re ready to fight anyone at 122-pounds. We don’t fear anybody.”
Roman decisions Payano
Despite being outlanded, Danny Roman won a 12-round unanimous decision over Juan Carlos Payano in a super bantamweight bout.
Payano outlanded Payano 261-151.
Roman, 121.2 lbs of Los Angeles won by scores of 116-112 on all cards and is now 27-3-1. Payano, 121.6 lbs of La Vega, DR is 21-3.
Attached, please find photos, stats and scorecard from Danny Roman vs. Juan Carlos Payano.
Danny Roman wins by unanimous decision (116-112 x3).
Roman:
“I don’t take anything away from Payano. I knew it would be a tough fight. He brought everything he could and I took it, made it a fight and came out victorious.
“He kept on landing his uppercut to the body early, but we adjusted our defense to avoid the shot and tried to pressure. I couldn’t brawl with him, so I had to box and use my distance a little more.
“He was countering me well because I wasn’t taking the distance away. I had to either block or get out of the way. After I started doing that, it worked out and I started throwing combinations. I saw I was hurting him to the body so I kept putting pressure on.
“I was trying to win every round and dominate. The last four rounds my trainer told me to step it up so the same thing didn’t happen that happened in my last fight. That’s what we did. We made the last few rounds convincing.
“We’re at the level and ready to fight the Luis Nery vs. Aaron Alameda winner. I still have unfinished business with Murodjon Akhmadaliev. I want that rematch. If not that, then I’m ready to fight Angelo Leo.
“It’s always good to have your hand raised. I can’t take anything away from Payano. He’s a veteran and he knows a lot of tricks. I had to adjust. It feels good to get a win again and I’m looking to keep that feeling going.”
Charlo decisions Derevyanchenko; Retains Middleweight Title
Jermall Charlo retained the WBC Middleweight title with a hard fought and workmanlike 12-round unanimous decision over Sergit Derevyanchenko.
The fought was fought equally at distance and on the inside. Charlo controlled the fight at distance as he hurt Derevyanchenko a couple of times with hard rights. In round three, Charlo hurt and buckled Derevyanchnko with a left hook. Dereevyanchenko was cut under right eye and had his left eye almost swollen shut. That did not deter him at all as he proficient with body shots and even hurt Charlo with a couple of those flank shots.
In the end, Charlo built up a solid lead as the two battled down the stretch.
Charlo outlanded Derevyanchenko 219-180.
Charlo, 159.8 lbs of Houston won by scores of 118-110, 117-111 and 116-112 to stay perfect at 31-0. Derevyanchenko, 159.4 lbs of Brooklyn is 13-3.
116-112, 117-111 and 118-110
Quotes:
Jermall Charlo:
“I made my team proud and I did what I was supposed to do. I executed the game plan. Ronnie Shields told me that I passed the test tonight. I’m happy to go back to the drawing board now and figure out what’s next.
“He was tough, but I knew he was going to be tough. I knew he’d come to fight, I just didn’t know how and when he’d try to turn it up. I felt like I never really let him turn it up and that was the game plan. I studied well and I didn’t let the pandemic affect my training. I just want to keep fighting and not let any negative interrupt the positive.
“I stayed poised, I stayed composed and I executed the game plan. I was staying behind the jab, I got away from it a little, but Ronnie got me back. I wanted to knock him out, but dominating like I did was a big statement.
“The big fights are out there. I’m steady learning and growing and stepping up in competition. My brother’s next, so that’s what’s really on my mind right now.”
“We stood toe-to-toe and we didn’t back down from anything. It was supposed to be one of the hardest fights of my career and we passed the test. He had a puncher’s chance, and of course the fight could have changed at any moment. I listened to my corner and executed the game plan and got the win.
“I wouldn’t say it was an easy fight, but we stuck to what we wanted to do and made it happen. I let my jab dictate and we got the victory. I wanted to knock him out, but you can’t knock everyone out. I’m a finisher, but you don’t want to run into anything even though you have him hurt. I landed the shots that I needed to in order to win.
“The whole world understands that I can fight in there with the best of them. He gave GGG a harder test than he gave me so I think the levels showed. I’m the best middleweight in the world.
“I’m not an easy fight for anyone. As long as I keep doing what I’m doing, I’ll get the fights I need and get the legacy that I always dreamed of.”
RONNIE SHIELDS
“I give his performance an A. Everyone was talking about how this is a tough fight, but every fight is tough. Jermall has one of the best jabs in the business. It’s a hard jab and he hurt Sergiy with it. He backed him up with it. I’m so proud of him. He showed that the better the competition, the better he gets.”
Figueroa stops Vazquez in 10 to Retain Super Bantam Title
Brandon Figueroa retained the WBA Super Bantamweight title with a 10th round stoppage over Damien Vazquez.
The fight was competitive for about a round and a half, before Figueroa got going and started to break down and bear up Vazquez. Vazquez right eye began to swell badly around round six. Over the last couple rounds, Vazquez took a lot of punishment and that’s when referee Gary Rosato stopped the fight at 1:18 of round 10.
Figueroa, 122 lbs of Weslaco, TX is 21-0-1 with 16 knockouts. Vazquez, 121.4 lbs of Thornton, CO is 15-2-1.
Figueroa:
“I felt good tonight. He was a lot tougher than I expected. I was punishing him to the body and head. I had to switch to lefty because of how he was coming in with his head. I didn’t want to risk a head butt so I boxed him differently.
“He was taking a lot of punishment and just trying to jab and survive in the last few rounds. I have to give him credit for being tough. He came to fight and proved he deserves to be in the ring with me. I knew with the pressure I put on, he wasn’t going to last 12 rounds.
“My dad told me to put more pressure in the middle of the fight and that’s what I did. He was holding up and taking my punches. But I knew just a little bit more damage and I could end it.
“I was just focused on boxing him and trying to find an opening, I wasn’t worried about what his corner was doing. At the end of the day, it’s just me and him in the ring. I was just trying to attack him and follow my game plan.
“I expected a little bit more out of myself. I did hurt my hand in the middle rounds, so I wasn’t throwing it too much. I just had to keep working. I knew that he had trouble with lefties, so I was able to find my range from that stance, hit him a lot more and eventually hurt him.
“I knew that I was going to win. We prepared great for this fight after having injuries in my last camp. All the hard work in the gym really paid off tonight.
“This shows that I can fight under pressure, I’m strong and I give exciting fights. That’s what fans want to see. I always leave everything in the ring and that’s what I did tonight.
“I’m ready for anyone, I know I belong with the best fighters in the division. I just want to give fans great fights.”
Casimero stops Micah in 3
John Riel Casimero defended the WBO Bantamweight title with a 3rd round stoppage over Duke Micah
In round two, Casimero dropped Micah with a hard right. Michah was hurt and stumbling throughout the rest of the round. In round three, Casimero came out and landed a hard barrage of punches that forced referee Steve Willis to stop the fight at
Casimero, 117.8 lbs of the Philippines is 30-4 with 21 knockouts. Micah, 117.2 lbs of Accra, GHA is 29-1.
Casimero:
“I worked hard and got the win tonight. In the first round I saw the body shot hurt him and thought I could get him out right away, but he’s a good boxer who was undefeated for a reason.
“The second round the uppercut hurt him, but Duke Micah works hard, he’s strong and has a good chin. I knew I was facing a good fighter, so I didn’t expect to knock him out so fast. He’s strong so I was prepared to go all 12 rounds.
“I’m the real monster. Naoya Inoue is scared of me. You’re next. I would have knocked out anyone today. If Inoue doesn’t fight me, then I’ll fight Guillermo Rigondeaux, Luis Nery, or any of the top fighters.”