If comparisons mean anything, Jermall Charlo made a nice statement on Saturday night.
Charlo didn’t have an easy time with Sergiy Derevyanchenko – who does? – but he defeated the rough, experienced Ukrainian more convincingly than middleweight rivals Daniel Jacobs and Gennadiy Golovkin did.
Charlo won a clear decision by scores of 116-112, 117-111 and 118-110. Boxing Junkie scored it 116-112 for Charlo.
“I did what I was supposed to do,” Charlo said. “I went in there and executed my game plan. … It was supposed to be my biggest test and I passed the test. I’m happy.
“Now I’ll go back to the drawing board and figure out what’s next.”
The most-effective punch in the fight probably was Charlo’s jab, which generally kept Derevyanchenko at a safe distance and set up power shots throughout the fight.
Derevyanchenko, as relentless as ever, worked his way inside – and landed hard punches – enough to make the fight competitive. However, Charlo weathered all storms and even did his own damage when they exchanged shots inside.
And if you glanced at the faces of the fighters afterward, you’d think that Charlo won easily. Derevyanchenko suffered a cut above his right eye in Round 5 and his left was almost completely closed by the end of the fight.
That was testament to the work of Charlo, who never badly hurt Derevyanchenko but stunned in a few times in the fight and landed consistently throughout.
Also, Charlo punched accurately. He landed 35 percent of his punches overall (219 of 627), according to ShoBox stats. However, he connected on an impressive 41 percent of his power shots (134 of 328).
The performance probably wouldn’t be described as spectacular – he would’ve need a knockout or a knockdown or two – but it was convincing. It certainly was the most impressive of his six fights at middleweight when you consider the opponent.
“I knew it was going to be tough,” he said. “I knew he’d come to fight. I just didn’t know … when he would turn it up but I never felt like I let him turn it up. I was sticking to my game plan. … I used my jab, stayed behind my jab. I got away from it sometimes but [trainer] Ronnie Shields got me back to it.
“I did want to knock him out, to make a statement, but getting the victory, shutting him out (winning a unanimous decision), was statement enough.”
Charlo, who successfully defended a secondary title in the fight, was asked afterward what he believes might come next.
He didn’t have much to say, changing the topic to a more-pressing issue: His twin brother, Jermell, was preparing to fight Jeison Rosario in the second half of the pay-per-view doubleheader.
“My brother is next,” he said. “That’s on my mind now.”
Make no mistake, though: Charlo is on the minds of his fellow 160-pounders and fans more than ever after Saturday night.
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