The fights
Charlo vs. Derevyanchenko
| Date | September 26, 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Venue | Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, Connecticut | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Title(s) on the line | WBC middleweight title | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tale of the tape | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Result | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Charlo wins via unanimous decision | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The main event of the first card saw Jermall Charlo defend his middleweight belt against number one contender Sergiy Derevyanchenko. [3]
Derevyanchenko was making his third attempt to win a world title, having lost a split decision against Daniel Jacobs in October 2018 and a competitive unanimous decision against Gennady Golovkin in October 2019. [4]
The fight
Charlo would utilize his superior height and reach, and powerful jab to box effectively at the start of the bout, shaking the challenger late in the third with a overhand right. Derevyanchenko would grow into the bout in the middle rounds, being to close the distance and steadily land punches with both hands. Going to the body with left and landing right hands over the top. Although both boxers to would land many hard punches but Charlo's punches were usually more accurate, bruising Derevyanchenko's face and causing blood to flow from his left eye. Derevyanchenko would nevertheless keep coming forward and backing the champion along the ropes.
At the end of 12 round Charlo would score an unanimous decision victory, with scores of 116–112, 117–111, 118–110. [5]
Aftermath
Speaking after bout Charlo said "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." [6]
Charlo vs. Rosario
| Title(s) on the line | WBA (Super), WBC, IBF and vacant The Ring light middleweight titles | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Tale of the tape | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Result | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jermell wins via 8th-round knockout | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The final bout saw Jermell Charlo face Jeison Rosario, with 3 of 4 155 lb titles on the line, plus the vacant The Ring belt. [7]
The fight
Charlo would start quickly, dropping Rosario with a left hook to the top of the head in the first round. In the next few round Rosario would manage to outwork Charlo with a series of attacks to the body, keeping Charlo on his back foot.
Near the end of the sixth however, another left hook had Rosario down again. This time, he was badly hurt and was saved by the bell. Rosario was knocked down for the third time by Charlo, with a left jab in the eight round and was unable to beat the count, giving Charlo the KO victory. [8] [9]
Aftermath
Speaking after the bout Charlo said "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." [10]
