Charlo Retains WBC Title, Canelo Next?
While challenger Brandon Adams gave him some trouble with his size and work on the inside, Jermall Charlo still handled him well, going on to score a unanimous decision and make his first successful defense of the WBC Middleweight Title.
This was originally going to be for Charlo’s interim title, but he was elevated to full-time, 160-pound world champion by the WBC earlier this week in favor of naming Canelo Alvarez “Franchise” champion. Adams earned this title shot by winning season five of The Contender.
After a mostly quiet first round, Charlo began to apply the pressure on Adams, with Adams responding with several clinches. Adams managed to find the inside in the third round, but the ending of that frame saw him face a flurry from the unbeaten half of the Charlo twins.
As the fight reached the fourth, however, it was becoming clear that Adams’ strategy of trying to get inside and using his shorter height and reach to duck away from Charlo’s punches, was frustrating the WBC champ a bit. Charlo made Adams eat several big shots in the fifth, but Adams managed to find his mark on Charlo’s body some more.
Distance & range 👊🏽👊🏽 #CharloAdams pic.twitter.com/JBszRBKlqA
— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) June 30, 2019
Adams continued to deploy this strategy in the second half of the fight, but despite his efforts, Charlo caught on and managed to land his own punches to Adams’ body. Adams managed to do a great job of avoiding Charlo’s power and tag him in the ninth, but his efforts would be for naught, as they would not be enough to slow Charlo down in the championship rounds.
Charlo ended up taking a unanimous decision, with scores of 119-109, 120-108 and 120-108.
AND STILL. @FutureOfBoxing wins by UD and improves to 29-0. #CharloAdams pic.twitter.com/OGUjFT5KMW
— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) June 30, 2019
WBC Middleweight Championship: (c.) Jermall Charlo def. Brandon Adams via unanimous decision (119-109, 120-108, 120-108)
WBC Junior Middleweight Title Eliminator: Erickson Lubin def. Zakaria Attou via TKO (corner stoppage) (Rd. 4, 1:19)
WBA Featherweight Title Eliminator: Claudio Marrero def. Eduardo Ramirez via unanimous decision (116-112, 115-113, 118-110)