Charlo leaves no doubt with win over Castaño
CARSON » Jermell Charlo and Brian Castaño vowed their rematch for boxing’s undisputed 154-pound world championship would not go to the judges this time.
Ten months after fighting to a split draw in Charlo’s home state of Texas for the historic crowning of boxing’s first undisputed super welterweight champion during the four-belt era, neither man wanted to risk another decision.
For nine-plus rounds they fought like they said they would.
Then in the 10th, Charlo ended the Argentine WBO champion’s hopes with a pair of knockdowns to collect Castaño’s title to go with his WBA, WBC and IBF belts.
“This is legacy,” Charlo said. “This is something that is legendary. I’m a legend. This is a beautiful thing.”
The first shot that put Castaño on the canvas came with a right to the body and a short left to the head that froze the Argentine before he slowly fell.
Shortly after regaining his feet, Castaño, 32, was pushed into a corner and Charlo slammed another left hook to the head, adding a body shot for good measure, assuring his status as boxing’s undisputed 154-pound champion.
Unlike their previous encounter, judges at ringside had Charlo (35-1-1, 19 KOs) comfortably ahead of Castaño (17-1-2, 12 KOs) heading into the fateful championship rounds.
Jermell Charlo, left, finishes off Brian Castaño in the 10th round on Saturday at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson.
Charlo said he felt nervous during the bout, almost like it was his debut contest, but he never appeared out of sorts even as Castaño out-landed him 194 to 173, per CompuBox numbers.
The mixed scores (117-111, 114-114, 113-114) from their first fight reflected their stylistic differences.
Charlo, 31, preferred a far less ambitious attack in the first encounter, although his limited output had the effect of keeping him protected while finding openings through which to dish out his considerable punching power.
“I didn’t finish him so I think that was the only mistake I made,” Charlo said. “I’m usually a closer.”
Because Charlo refused to allow Castaño, who showed up to the venue late, to trap him against the ropes without a response, the first six rounds of the rematch proved to be much more active.
The Houston-born Charlo made good on his intentions, going toe to toe at various points, particularly
when he was pressed against the ropes.
As the bout moved into its latter stages, Charlo changed up his torrid pace and began to measure shots while Castaño’s early pressure disappeared.
“I got in my bag around the seventh round,” Charlo said. “I started sitting down a little bit more instead of boxing so much and moving around. I saw that he was wearing down a little bit and I was breaking him down. I just saw my punches being more effective. I get stronger in the later rounds if they didn’t know.”
Prior to the main event, budding welterweight star Jaron “Boots” Ennis continued his impressive unbeaten run by knocking out Custio Clayton (19-0-2) with a right hand behind the ear at 2:49 of Round 2.
The unbeaten 24-year-old Philadelphian improved to 29-0 (27 KOs) and secured a mandatory slot for the IBF title at 147 pounds, lining him up to challenge Errol Spence Jr., who watched the contest from ringside.