Charlo Vs Castano rematch- who`s improved the most?

By James Blears

WBC, WBA and IBF super welterweight champion Jermell Charlo Vs WBO champion Brian Castano rematch for the Undisputed Title, on Saturday on May 14th at Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson…a question of who can adapt, to make the necessary adept adjustments and improvements to win.
It was to have happened on March 19th, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, but had to put back, because Brian reported a slight tear to his right bicep, which didn`t require surgery but needed healing and recuperation, in order for him to be fully ready.

Fight one last July 17th at the AT&T Stadium Houston, was an absolute thriller, and a pointer to what will happen next. Both started cautiously and prudently in round one, with respect for each other`s ability and punching power. With gloves cupped high around his face, Brian was then 17-0-1, 12 KO`s and is a stocky at five feet seven and a half inches tall, which is almost four inches shorter than lean, elegant and elongated Jermell, with a sixty seven and a half inch reach. He really needed to breach that gap in distance to reach Jermell (34-1, 18 KO`s) who has a seventy three inch reach.
The action flared in round three when Brian caught Jermell with a mighty left hook and an even harder follow up one, which wobbled him. Brian launched a follow up onslaught from hell, for the twenty seconds remaining until the bell, to emphatically punctuate, what was an eventful round.
As Brian was pressing, Jermell was counter punching, trying to pick his shots and land precisely, while Brian was successfully reducing the distance, to throw hooks, as jabs were never going to so effective, as he was outreached. Robustly square shouldered in almost zoot suit shape, with his surname tattooed on his back, Brian is a pressure fighter, who likes to let his hands go. While Jermell is more selective with his marksmanship, in his efforts to establish a thudding hallmark impression.

Both warmed to their task in rounds six and seven, opening up with venom, in ferocious yet controlled close range exchanges, much to the delight of the fans, initially on the edge of their seats and then brought to their feet by the intense action, which they roared on. With very few clinches and scrupulously fair fighting, Referee Hector Afu, as always vigilant, but astutely, with no fuss, let the action flow.

An important turning point came in the tenth, when Jermell landed a thunderous left hook which shook Brian, who had to weather a cascade of ensuing and pursuing punches. Jermell capitalized on this, pressing and forcing the momentum plus action and with it advantage, to win the last three rounds on all three Judges` scorecards which was timely as well as tactically necessary. A crucial charging late surge.

So…a split draw. Steve Weisfeld totted it up as 114-113 for Brian, Nelson Vazquez saw it as 117-111 for Jermell, while Tim Cheatham had it as a 114-114 draw.

Both fighters visibly crestfallen and disappointed, convinced of victory, and knowing that a second encounter for all four belts was now inevitable.

In the rematch, Jermell must start faster and go on to the attack much sooner, rather than relying on counter punching. He must impose himself earlier. While Brian has to maintain that blistering pace, which he established in fight one. It slightly diminished after the half way mark. Then… Jermell`s impactful left hook in the tenth, took yet more out of Brian, and Brian lost the last three rounds.

Up to this point, the only blemish on Jermell`s record was the loss of his championship on points to Tony Harrison, which he avenged by a spectacular eleventh round KO in their rematch. Jermell aged thirty one, has been a pro boxer since he was seventeen, back in 2007. Brian aged thirty two, turned pro in 2012, aged twenty three.

Brian`s father Carlos, an ex- boxer himself, has always been in his corner. Brian`s younger brother Alan aged twenty nine is also a pro boxer. His record as a middleweight is 14-1, 9 KO`s. They often train together.

Jermell is one minute younger than identical twin brother Jermall. They are the first twins ever to be super welterweight champions simultaneously. On May 21st 2016 Jermall retained his IBF super welterweight championship with a UD over Austin Trout. On that same night Jermell won the vacant WBC title knocking out John Jackson in the eighth round.

Another notable bit of history, this time at the Barclays Center, when Jermall won the toss of the WBC coin by Gerry Cooney against Jermell, calling it heads. So on December 22nd 2018, Jermall was top of the bill to defend his WBC Interim middleweight title against Willie Monroe Jr. But Willie failed a doping test, and was replaced by Matt Korobov, whom Jermall defeated by UD. That was the very night when Jermell lost his WBC super welterweight title to Tony Harrison, which he won back from Tony, two fights later. Jermall is the current WBC middleweight champion. Jermall has an unbeaten record of 32-0, 22 KO`s.

The love and bond of identical twins is something which is easy to put into words, but impossible to adequately quantify. Jermell and Jermall staunchly support each other on their fight nights. Often as not the twin who`s not fighting, is there to support, cheer on, hug and whole heartedly congratulate the other.

But as sometimes happens with twins, there can be a competitive frisson, leading to friction. Jermall has said: “I want us to be at the top together. Never just a race together, but there has to be a first place and a second place. I`m ok with being in second place.”

But as Jermall and Jermell instinctively know, twins are one soul in two bodies. As the saying goes: “I love you as I love myself, as you are my other half. I love you more than all the wealth of this world. Thank you for being my twin.”

WBC STATISTICS

WBC Super Welterweight World Championship

May 14, 2022 / Carson, California / Dignity Health Sports Park

TGB PROMOTIONS and LIONS ONLY PROMOTIONS PRESENT:

JERMELL “Iron Man” CHARLO (USA)

WBC Super Welterweight World Champion (two-time), 6th Defense

WBA & IBF Super Welterweight World Champion

Age: 31 / Date of birth: May 19, 1990

Residence: Houston, Texas / Birthplace: Lafayette, Louisiana

Record: 34-1-1, 18 KOs / World championship fights: 6-1-1, 5 KOs / Total rounds: 246

Height: 5’11” – 180cm / Reach: 73” – 185cm / Stance: Right-handed

Manager: Al Haymon / Trainer: Derrick James

BRIAN “El Boxi” CASTAÑO (Argentina)

WBO Junior Middleweight World Champion

Age: 32 / Date of birth: September 12, 1989

Residence: San Justo, Buenos Aires, Argentina / Birthplace: Isidro Casanova, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Record: 17-0-2, 12 KOs / World championship fights: 2-0-2, 1 KO / Total rounds: 120

Height: 5’7.5″ – 171cm / Reach: 67.5″ – 171cm / Stance: Right-handed

Manager: Sebastian Contursi / Trainer: Carlos Alberto Castaño

WBC SUPER WELTERWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONS

1. Denny Moyer (US) (+) 1963

2. Ralph Dupas (US) (+) 1963

3. Sandro Mazzinghi (Italy) 1963 – 1965

4. Nino Benvenuti (Italy) 1965 – 1966

5. Kisoo Kim (Korea) (+) 1966 – 1968

6. Sandro Mazzinghi (Italy) * 1968

7. Fred Little (US) 1969 – 1970

8. Carmelo Bossi (Italy) 1970 – 1971

9. Koichi Wajima (Japan) 1971 – 1974

10. Oscar Albarado (US) 1974 – 1975

11. Koichi Wajima (Japan) * 1975

12. Miguel de Oliveira (Brazil) 1975

13. Elisha Obed (Bahamas) 1975 – 1976

14. Eckhard Dagge (Ger) (+) 1976 – 1977

15. Rocco Mattioli (Italy) 1977 – 1979

16. Maurice Hope (GB) 1979 – 1981

17. Wilfredo Benitez (P. Rico) 1981 – 1982

18. Thomas Hearns (US) 1982 – 1986

19. Duane Thomas (US) (+) 1986 – 1987

20. Lupe Aquino (Mexico) 1987

21. Gianfranco Rosi (Italy) 1987 – 1988

22. Don Curry (US) 1988 – 1989

23. Rene Jacquot (France) 1989

24. John Mugabi (Uganda) 1989 – 1990

25. Terry Norris (US) 1990 – 1993

26. Simon Brown (Jamaica) 1993 – 1994

27. Terry Norris (US) * 1994

28. Luis Santana (DR) 1994 – 1995

29. Terry Norris (US) * 1995 – 1997

30. Keith Mullings (US) 1997 – 1999

31. Francisco Castillejo (Spain) 1999 – 2001

32. Oscar de la Hoya (US-Mex) 2001 – 2003

33. Francisco Castillejo (Spain) * 2002 – 2003

34. Shane Mosley (US) 2003 – 2004

35. Winky Wright (US) 2004

36. Ricardo Mayorga (Nic.) 2005 – 2006

37. Oscar de la Hoya (US-Mex) * 2006 – 2007

38. Floyd Mayweather Jr. (US) 2007

39. Vernon Forrest (US) (+) 2007 – 2008

40. Sergio Mora (US) 2008

41. Vernon Forrest (US) * 2008

42. Sergio Martinez (Arg) 2008 – 2009

43. Manny Pacquiao (Phil) 2010

44. Saul Alvarez (Mexico) 2011 – 2013

45. Floyd Mayweather Jr. (US)* 2013 – 2015

46. Jermell Charlo (US) 2016 – 2018

47. Tony Harrison (US) 2018 – 2019

48. Jermell Charlo (US)* 2019 –

* Regained

WBC SUPER WELTERWEIGHT TOP 10 CHAMPIONS

1. Floyd Mayweather Jr. (US)

2. Oscar De La Hoya (Mexico/US)

3. Terry Norris (US)

4. Winky Wright (US)

5. Sergio Martinez (Argentina)

6. Nino Benvenuti (Italy)

7. Simon Brown (Jamaica/US)

8. Shane Mosley (US)

9. Vernon Forrest (US)

10. Manny Pacquiao (Phil)

GENERAL INFORMATION ON THE SUPER WELTERWEIGHT DIVISION IN WBC HISTORY

39 world champions have been recognized by the WBC, of whom only eight have regained the title: Sandro Mazzinghi (Italy), Koichi Wajima (Japan), Terry Norris (US) twice, Francisco Castillejo (Spain), Oscar de la Hoya (US-Mex), Vernon Forrest (US), Floyd Mayweather Jr. (US), Jermell Charlo (US).

121 WBC super welterweight world title bouts have been held in WBC history.

MEMORABLE WBC SUPER WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP FIGHTS:

July 17, 2021 Jermell Charlo D12 Brian Castaño – San Antonio, Texas

Sep. 26, 2020 Jermell Charlo KO8 Jeison Rosario – Uncasville, Connecticut

Dec. 21, 2019 Jermell Charlo KO11 Tony Harrison – Ontario, California

Dec. 22, 2018 Tony Harrison W12 Jermell Charlo – Brooklyn, New York

June 9, 2018 Jermell Charlo W12 Austin Trout – Los Angeles, California

May 21, 2016 Jermell Charlo KO8 John Jackson – Las Vegas, Nevada

Sep. 14, 2013 Floyd Mayweather Jr. W12 Canelo Alvarez – Las Vegas, Nevada

May 5, 2012 Canelo Alvarez W12 Shane Mosley – Las Vegas, Nevada

Nov. 13, 2010 Manny Pacquiao W12 Antonio Margarito – Arlington, Texas

May 5, 2007 Floyd Mayweather Jr. W12 Oscar De La Hoya – Las Vegas, Nevada

Sep. 13, 2003 Shane Mosley W12 Oscar De La Hoya – Las Vegas, Nevada

Sep. 14, 2002 Oscar De La Hoya TKO11 Fernando Vargas – Las Vegas, Nevada

Jan. 29, 1999 Francisco Castillejo W12 Keith Mullings – Leganes, Spain

Dec. 18, 1993 Simon Brown KO4 Terry Norris – Puebla, Mexico

March 31, 1990 Terry Norris KO1 John Mugabi – Tampa, Florida

June 15, 1984 Thomas Hearns TKO2 Roberto Duran – Las Vegas, Nevada

May 23, 1981 Wilfred Benitez KO12 Maurice Hope – Las Vegas, Nevada

June 18, 1965 Nino Benvenuti KO6 Sandro Mazzinghi – Milan, Italy

Feb. 19, 1963 Denny Moyer W15 Stan Harrington – Honolulu, Hawaii