Mark Your Card: Jermell Charlo Split Draw Brian Castaño

Battle: Jermell Charlo vs. Brian Castaño

Date: July 17, 2021

Weight Class: Junior Middleweight

Storyline: Within the first undisputed championship battle at 154 kilos since Winky Wright outpointed Shane Mosley in March 2004, Charlo (34-1, 18 knockouts), 31, Richmond, Texas takes on Castano (17-0-1, 12 KOs), 31, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Charlo, The Ring Journal/ IBF/ WBA and WBC titleholder, has house benefit in opposition to WBO counterpart Castaño, who is essentially unknown within the U.S. A big portion of followers and media really feel that the rampaging Argentinian might have a knockout if he’s to prevail on the AT&T Middle in San Antonio.

Battle: This was a traditional boxer versus brawler duel. Charlo introduced the jab, the counter punching sport, the lateral motion and the handspeed, whereas sensible pressure-fighter Castaño sought to shut the hole, minimize his man off and unleash bodily hell when Charlo ran out of time and distance.

Outcome: 12-round break up determination draw

My Scorecard

I gave the battle to Castaño by a rating of 115-113 (seven rounds to 5). I had it even after six, however I believed Castaño turned the screw within the seventh, eight and ninth. Charlo appeared like he was feeling sorry for himself throughout these classes, however he displayed the guts of a champion to shake Castaño with a game-changing left hand within the tenth. I gave Charlo two of the final three classes, however, for my part, he’d fallen simply brief. With that stated, I’ve no drawback with the official verdict.

Judges’ Scorecards

Tim Cheatham (Nevada): 114-114

Nelson Vazquez (Puerto Rico): 117-111 Charlo

Steve Weisfield (New Jersey): 114-113 Castaño

Offending Scorecard: One other 117-111 (9 rounds to a few) card!?!?! What’s it with these rattling numbers? From my viewpoint, Nelson Vazquez’s rating is inconceivable to justify. Weisfield and Showtime’s Steve Farhood awarded Castaño 4 of the primary six rounds. Myself and Cheatham had the fighters even on the halfway level. Nonetheless, Vazquez managed to provide 5 of the primary six rounds to Charlo and that’s simply miles away from actuality. In reference to Vazquez’s card, former two-weight world champion Andre Ward acknowledged by way of his official Twitter account: “That wasn’t a mistake, that’s incompetence!” I agree, and if Carlos Sucre needed to reply for his Estrada-Gonzalez 2 scorecard (additionally a daft 117-111 tally), then Vazquez ought to be referred to as upon to elucidate this one.

After I appeared underneath Vazquez’s fingernails, the one different traditional I got here throughout was his scoring for Lamont Peterson’s 12-round break up determination win over Amir Khan in 2011. In an in depth battle, two judges awarded that bout to Peterson by scores of 113-112. Khan scored a first-round knockdown, however he had two factors deducted for pushing and was bullied and outhustled in a number of rounds. Out on his lonesome, Vazquez discovered a method to give the battle to Khan by a rating of 115-110 (or, you guessed it, 9 rounds to a few).

Fan/ Knowledgeable opinion: Whereas Charlo has his rooters, social media opinion definitely appears to favor Castaño by a ways. Nonetheless, as I stated above, when you’ve got a fighter successful by only a spherical or two, it’s troublesome to argue with a tied verdict. The phrase “theft” will get thrown round far too simply and that’s a symptom of frustration. Let’s be sincere, a big amount of followers will watch a battle with out scoring it, then shout “theft” from the rooftops. This draw, in my thoughts, was no theft, but when one fighter has the fitting to really feel aggrieved it’s Castaño.

Closing Evaluation: We want a rematch. This was a really entertaining battle, contested at a excessive stage and followers will need it rolled again as quickly as potential. What’s the choice? Charlo and Castaño don’t have too many choices with out one another. Potential mandatories for Charlo embrace Erickson Lubin (a first-round knockout sufferer of Charlo’s), Israil Madrimov and Bakhram Murtazaliev. Tim Tszyu is Castaño’s necessary, however whereas he’s a high quality operator, Charlo-Castaño 2 is the place it’s at. Let’s simply ensure Nelson Vazquez is off obligation that night time.

Tom Grey is Managing Editor for Ring Journal. Comply with him on Twitter: @Tom_Gray_Boxing