The NRA Arena in Houston, Texas is the scene for Jermall Charlo’s first official defence of the WBC Middleweight Title this Saturday night.
Charlo was serving as Interim Champion, but is now the beneficiary of a new, bizarre Title designed to benefit the WBC Champion, which was Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, who is now upgraded to “Franchise” Champion, for whatever that is worth.
Charlo meets Norwalk, California’s Brandon Adams, in what looks a routine assignment on paper. ITV4 broadcast live in the UK, with the event a Premier Boxing Champions offering on Showtime in the USA.
Jermall Charlo (28-0, KO21) v Brandon Adams (21-2, KO13) 12 Rounds, WBC Middleweight Title
Hot on the heels of his brother, Jermell’s third round knockout win over Jorge Cota in Las Vegas last week, Jermall Charlo defends the WBC Middleweight Title in Texas this weekend.
As previously mentioned, Jermall has been upgraded to full WBC Champion after a spell as an Interim ruler. This now makes Charlo a two weight World Champion, following his four knockdown, third round stoppage win against Cornelius Bundrage in September 2015 to pick up the IBF belt at Super Welterweight.
He impressively defended that crown three times, scoring knockout wins against Wilky Campfort and Julian Williams, and also soundly outscoring Austin Trout.
He has carried his power up to Middleweight, where he now resides, stopping Jorge Sebastien Heiland in four in July 2017, before knocking Hugo Centeno Junior out in two rounds in April 2018 to lift the Interim WBC Title.
His last fight saw him widely outpoint former amateur starlet, Matvey Korobov in Brooklyn in December 2018.
A professional since 2008, the 29 year old “Hitman” is unbeaten in twenty eight paid outings, and has a high knockout ratio.
His first official challenger, Brandon Adams, doesn’t pose too much of a threat on paper.
The Californian is on a four fight winning streak since a second round stoppage defeat to former Liam Smith opponent, John Thompson, in May 2015. That contest was the final of the 2015 Boxcino tournament, and Adams’ only other defeat came in the final of the 2014 edition, where Willie Monroe Junior clearly outscored him over ten.
Adams does have a penchant for tournament boxing, with his four fight winning run all taking place as part of “The Contender” series. Brandon won the competition by defeating Shane Mosley Junior, winning every round of ten on two cards, and nine rounds on the third.
Clearly the programme still holds popularity, as Adams receives this shot at the WBC belt on the back of his November 2018 Contender win.
Prediction: Charlo will have eyes firmly on the big boys of the prestigious Middleweight division, but will want to get Adams out of the way as swiftly as possible to fully focus on future fights. At six foot, Charlo is a tall and rangy operator, with power in both hands. Although a regular on TV in the USA, Adams is relatively unknown worldwide, and he will hope to grab his big chance with both fists. I can see Charlo’s power troubling Adams early on, and an early knockdown wouldn’t be a surprise. Charlo can retain his newly upgraded Title by stopping Adams within six.
Elsewhere on the card, Erickson Lubin (20-1, KO15) continues a rebuild since a devastating first round knockout loss against Jermell Charlo for the WBC Super Welterweight Title in October 2017, when he meets Frenchman, Zakaria Attou (29-6-2, KO7) over twelve.
Mexican Featherweight, Eduardo Ramirez (22-1-3, KO9) whose sole defeat remains in an unsuccessful challenge to Lee Selby for the IBF Title in December 2017, squares off against Dominican
