Friday, December 21, 2018

Jermell Charlo vs. Tony Harrison, Jermall Charlo vs. Matt Korobov


Let’s not kid ourselves and believe that these are anything more than stay-busy, brand-building fights for the Charlo twins. Matt Korobov and Tony Harrison might be competent, B-caliber fighters but their vulnerabilities have already been exposed at the championship level. At the very most, Munroe and Harrison represent yardsticks since they have fallen short against other world titleholders.

Jermell Charlo vs. Tony Harrison

Harrison can crack and has above-average boxing skills but, as evidenced in his knockout losses to Jared Hurd and Willie Nelson, his chin is suspect. Jermell Charlo is defensively sound, his chin has been sufficiently tested and is equal or better than Harrison in boxing ability and punching power. The only chance Harrison has for winning this fight is if he catches Charlo napping.

The fight might be competitive in the opening rounds but once Jermell lands the first clean punch, Harrison will begin to unravel. It will happen sooner rather than later. By the third round, Jermell figures out a way to out-jab Harrison and, in the fifth round he stops Harrison with left-right-left hook combination. The victory fuels a much-anticipated Charlo-Hurd triple-unification showdown in 2019.

Jermall Charlo vs. Matt Korobov

Korobov came in on five days notice, replacing Willie Munroe Jr. who tested for excessive levels of testosterone. Like Munroe, Korobov is a southpaw, but that’s where the similarity ends. The Russian is markedly bigger than Munroe and his style is more rugged and in-your-face. All in all, though, Korobov turns out to be more custom-made for Charlo than Munroe.

In the initial rounds, Charlo has trouble finding the range for his jab clean against the lefty, but once he does, he shoots it out in doubles and triples, gradually creating openings for his other weaponry. Korobov determinedly returns fire but he simply cannot match the Charlo’s firepower and accuracy.

Preoccupied with dodging Charlo’s jab, Korobov runs smack into a straight right that sends him reeling in the sixth round. Charlo pounces on his wounded prey with a multi-punch flurry punctuated by a right uppercut that prompts Korobov’s corner to toss in the towel.