Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
Photos: Jermell Charlo’s brutal 10th-round KO of Brian Castano.
Jermell Charlo knocked out Brian Castano in the 10th round of their rematch to become the undisputed 154-pound champion Saturday in Carson, California.
Here are images from the fight. All photos by Jayne Kamin-Oncea of Getty Images.
Jermell Charlo delivered a brutal knockout of Brian Castano to become the 154-pound king Saturday in Carson, California.
Jermell Charlo made the scoring irrelevant the second time around. As a result, he clinched a career defining victory.
Charlo and Brian Castano were engaged in a thrilling back-and-forth battle when Charlo decided enough was enough, putting Castano down with a left hook in the 10th round and then ending the fight moments later to become undisputed 154-pound champion Saturday in Carson, California.
“This is unbelievable,” a jubilant Charlo said immediately afterward.
HISTORY MADE FOR @TwinCharlo 👑
Charlo stops Castano in RD 10 to become the first ever 154-lb undisputed champ in the 4-belt era. #CharloCastano2 pic.twitter.com/Fy81yrXTBp
— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) May 15, 2022
The rivals had to settle for a hard-fought draw in July, which most observers felt was justified. And, to the delight of those watching, the rematch also was compelling for nine-plus rounds.
Castano did what he does, which is to stalk his opponents and fire off accurate power shots for almost the entire fight. He pushed Charlo hard.
For his part Charlo did an excellent job of catching Castano with punishing blows as he was moving toward him. He also was able to use his feet to avoid being pinned against the ropes, where Castano did good work in their first fight.
The result was a competitive, highly entertaining fight, although the judges had Charlo well ahead on the cards after nine rounds: 89-82, 88-83 and 87-84. Boxing Junkie had Charlo winning 86-85.
Again, however, the cards meant nothing in the end.
By the 10th round, Charlo had seized the momentum and was landing power shots at a higher rate. One of them essentially ended the fight, a left hook to the temple that dazed and dropped the normally durable Castano.
The Argentine was able to get to his feet. However, a flurry of punches from Charlo – punctuated by a left hook to the body – put Castano down again and ended the fight, making Charlo the 154-pound king.
“Around the seventh round I started sitting down a little bit more [on my punches] instead of boxing so much and running around,” he said. “I started to see he was wearing down a little bit, I was wearing him down. And I stepped up.
He went on: “I just started seeing my punches being more affective. That’s what happened.”
Castano (17-1-2, 12 KOs) was gracious afterward, as the fighters congratulated one another on a great fight.
And he made no excuses.
“It was an incredible fight,” he said through a translator. “We both were fighting back and forth, there was power back and forth. And his [left] hand came over and he won the fight. He’s a champion.”
Castano was then asked what the difference was in their two fights. “That he got me,” he said with a smile.
Charlo hasn’t indicated what his plans might be going forward. He obviously can’t accomplish much more at junior middleweight, although potential fights loom with the likes of Tim Tszyu and Sebastian Fundora.
And, of course, there’s another possibility.
“I’m not done, dog,” he bellowed. “I might move up to 160 and see if I can do it again.”
No one would put that past him.
[lawrence-related id=30202]
Jermell Charlo delivered a brutal knockout of Brian Castano to become the 154-pound king Saturday in Carson, California.
Jermell Charlo made the scoring irrelevant the second time around. As a result, he clinched a career defining victory.
Charlo and Brian Castano were engaged in a thrilling back-and-forth battle when Charlo decided enough was enough, putting Castano down with a left hook in the 10th round and then ending the fight moments later to become undisputed 154-pound champion Saturday in Carson, California.
“This is unbelievable,” a jubilant Charlo said immediately afterward.
HISTORY MADE FOR @TwinCharlo 👑
Charlo stops Castano in RD 10 to become the first ever 154-lb undisputed champ in the 4-belt era. #CharloCastano2 pic.twitter.com/Fy81yrXTBp
— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) May 15, 2022
The rivals had to settle for a hard-fought draw in July, which most observers felt was justified. And, to the delight of those watching, the rematch also was compelling for nine-plus rounds.
Castano did what he does, which is to stalk his opponents and fire off accurate power shots for almost the entire fight. He pushed Charlo hard.
For his part Charlo did an excellent job of catching Castano with punishing blows as he was moving toward him. He also was able to use his feet to avoid being pinned against the ropes, where Castano did good work in their first fight.
The result was a competitive, highly entertaining fight, although the judges had Charlo well ahead on the cards after nine rounds: 89-82, 88-83 and 87-84. Boxing Junkie had Charlo winning 86-85.
Again, however, the cards meant nothing in the end.
By the 10th round, Charlo had seized the momentum and was landing power shots at a higher rate. One of them essentially ended the fight, a left hook to the temple that dazed and dropped the normally durable Castano.
The Argentine was able to get to his feet. However, a flurry of punches from Charlo – punctuated by a left hook to the body – put Castano down again and ended the fight, making Charlo the 154-pound king.
“Around the seventh round I started sitting down a little bit more [on my punches] instead of boxing so much and running around,” he said. “I started to see he was wearing down a little bit, I was wearing him down. And I stepped up.
He went on: “I just started seeing my punches being more affective. That’s what happened.”
Castano (17-1-2, 12 KOs) was gracious afterward, as the fighters congratulated one another on a great fight.
And he made no excuses.
“It was an incredible fight,” he said through a translator. “We both were fighting back and forth, there was power back and forth. And his [left] hand came over and he won the fight. He’s a champion.”
Castano was then asked what the difference was in their two fights. “That he got me,” he said with a smile.
Charlo hasn’t indicated what his plans might be going forward. He obviously can’t accomplish much more at junior middleweight, although potential fights loom with the likes of Tim Tszyu and Sebastian Fundora.
And, of course, there’s another possibility.
“I’m not done, dog,” he bellowed. “I might move up to 160 and see if I can do it again.”
No one would put that past him.
[lawrence-related id=30202]
Good, bad, worse: Jermell Charlo-Brian Castano draw, one rogue judge.
GOOD
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ka0KQdrX85k
Perhaps lost in the disappointment of the draw is the fact Jermell Charlo and Brian Castano gave us a fight worthy of the hype Saturday at AT&T Center in San Antonio.
The periodic action and ebbs and flows, combined with the significance of the event, had me riveted even though it wasn’t a classic brawl.
Both fighters had to overcome adversity to avoid defeat, Castano surviving a number of precarious moments when he was hurt and Charlo, spurred on by his trainer, overcoming a deficit on the cards in the final three rounds to earn the split draw.
Neither fighter was as effective as we might’ve expected, Castano not quite as busy as usual and Charlo unable to finish off his rugged foe. However, that had more to do with their counterparts’ abilities than any deficiencies on their part.
Castano had to apply pressure in an intelligent, methodical manner or he would never have lasted 12 rounds. And Charlo landed the type of booming shots that have stopped other opponents; this one was just too tough to put away.
Each of them said what you’d expect afterward, that he deserved to have his hand raised. However, Charlo might’ve been speaking for both of them when he admitted in so many words that he didn’t let his hands go as much as he should have.
That’s my only criticism of both fighters: Castano needed to engage a tad more than he did regardless of the risk and Charlo relied too much on his power, which let him down in a sense. He, too, needed to be busier.
That said, the action they gave us was compelling. The inside exchanges were sometimes brutal. Charlo’s big shots had us thinking knockout, particularly in that wild Round 10. And the fact neither could separate himself from the other was an indication of how perfectly these two fighters were matched.
I hated the draw but it was fun to watch.
***
BAD
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPPNzbTV70g
The draw. Ugh.
The result was legitimate but it’s still difficult to swallow because we became married to the idea that we’d have the first undisputed junior middleweight champion of the four-belt era. In the end, nothing was settled.
Neither fighter was able to demonstrate conclusively that he was better than the other in what turned out to be an evenly matched bout.
We can and should use our knowledge to determine the best fighters in each division without relying on the decisions of corrupt sanctioning bodies. However, battles for all four belts are the best official means of determining who is No. 1.
Could they do it again?
The fighters are still enamored with the idea of becoming “undisputed” – which means a rematch is possible – but we’ll see whether the sanctioning bodies will be willing — able? — to set aside mandatory defenses to allow it.
And, of course, unforeseen obstacles could prevent Charlo-Castano II from happening. After all, boxing has a knack of getting in its own way.
Who would win the rematch? Flip a coin. The fight on Saturday was so close, so competitive that it would be difficult to predict a winner with any conviction.
That’s the point here. The fans were hungry to see the crowning of an undisputed 154-champion but were disappointed in that regard. So were the fighters, both of whom believed they deserved to win.
I hope the powers that be can find a way to do it again. If a rematch was ever warranted, this is it.
***
WORSE
117-110 for Charlo? Nine rounds to three?
I’ve tried to imagine what judge Nelson Vazquez of Puerto Rico was seeing during the Charlo-Castano fight, which I scored 115-113 for Castano. A draw or 115-113 either way would’ve reflected what happened in the ring, not 117-110, in my opinion.
Castano didn’t throw as many punches as he normally does but I thought he got more accomplished than Charlo did, primarily during their inside exchanges. And I thought that Castano blocked many of Charlo’s punches with his gloves. He’s an excellent defensive fighter.
Charlo certainly had strong rounds, particularly Round 10, when he hurt Castano multiple times. And I have no problem with the fact all three judges gave Charlo the final three rounds. His rally was impressive.
However, after the final bell, the fighters, their camps and those watching worldwide had no idea what would come out of Jimmy Lennon’s mouth when he announced the results. That’s because everyone knew the fight was close.
Everyone but Vazquez, that is. He gave Castano only Rounds 3, 7 and 9.
Of course, scoring is subjective. Vazquez would say he called it as he saw it. The problem is that a score that strays so far from the observations of the vast majority is a red flag that something was amiss.
And nine rounds to three was an insult to Castano, who turned in a fine performance – maybe the best of his career — against one of the top fighters in the world pound for pound. He deserved better.
Thank goodness that Vazquez’s poor scoring didn’t result in a disastrous decision. We can live with a draw.
RABBIT PUNCHES
Lightweight contender Rolando Romero (14-0, 12 KOs) gave a strong performance against late replacement Anthony Yigit (24-2-1, 8 KOs) on the Charlo-Castano card, stopping the Swedish fighter in the seventh round of a scheduled 12-rounder. Romero is what he says he is: a big puncher. Yigit, a good, experienced opponent, certainly couldn’t stand up to Romero’s power. Romero called out fellow 135-pounder Gervonta Davis after the fight. Can Romero handle “Tank”? I doubt it. Davis is a better all-around fighter and probably punches harder than Romero. That said, Romero’s power is real. You never know what would happen if a big shot found Davis’ chin. I wouldn’t mind seeing that fight. … I feel for Immanuwel Aleem (18-3-2, 11 KOs). The much-improved protégé of trainer Ronnie Shields gave an inspired performance against middleweight contender Amilcar Vidal (13-0, 11 KOs) only to lose a majority decision in a 10-round bout on the Charlo-Castano card. I thought Aleem beat Vidal at his own power-punching game, getting the better of most of their inside exchanges and withstanding the shots Vidal was able to land. I gave Aleem the edge in what I thought was a close fight. Judge Anthony De Los Santos had it right, 95-95. Judges Ruben Carrion and Glen Rick Crocker both scored it 97-93, seven rounds to three, for Vidal. That was too wide in Vidal’s favor even if you believed he landed the bigger blows. Aleem had a right to be frustrated afterward. The good news is that he made a strong statement. He’ll be back.
[vertical-gallery id=21965]
Good, bad, worse: Jermell Charlo-Brian Castano draw, one rogue judge.
GOOD
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ka0KQdrX85k
Perhaps lost in the disappointment of the draw is the fact Jermell Charlo and Brian Castano gave us a fight worthy of the hype Saturday at AT&T Center in San Antonio.
The periodic action and ebbs and flows, combined with the significance of the event, had me riveted even though it wasn’t a classic brawl.
Both fighters had to overcome adversity to avoid defeat, Castano surviving a number of precarious moments when he was hurt and Charlo, spurred on by his trainer, overcoming a deficit on the cards in the final three rounds to earn the split draw.
Neither fighter was as effective as we might’ve expected, Castano not quite as busy as usual and Charlo unable to finish off his rugged foe. However, that had more to do with their counterparts’ abilities than any deficiencies on their part.
Castano had to apply pressure in an intelligent, methodical manner or he would never have lasted 12 rounds. And Charlo landed the type of booming shots that have stopped other opponents; this one was just too tough to put away.
Each of them said what you’d expect afterward, that he deserved to have his hand raised. However, Charlo might’ve been speaking for both of them when he admitted in so many words that he didn’t let his hands go as much as he should have.
That’s my only criticism of both fighters: Castano needed to engage a tad more than he did regardless of the risk and Charlo relied too much on his power, which let him down in a sense. He, too, needed to be busier.
That said, the action they gave us was compelling. The inside exchanges were sometimes brutal. Charlo’s big shots had us thinking knockout, particularly in that wild Round 10. And the fact neither could separate himself from the other was an indication of how perfectly these two fighters were matched.
I hated the draw but it was fun to watch.
***
BAD
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPPNzbTV70g
The draw. Ugh.
The result was legitimate but it’s still difficult to swallow because we became married to the idea that we’d have the first undisputed junior middleweight champion of the four-belt era. In the end, nothing was settled.
Neither fighter was able to demonstrate conclusively that he was better than the other in what turned out to be an evenly matched bout.
We can and should use our knowledge to determine the best fighters in each division without relying on the decisions of corrupt sanctioning bodies. However, battles for all four belts are the best official means of determining who is No. 1.
Could they do it again?
The fighters are still enamored with the idea of becoming “undisputed” – which means a rematch is possible – but we’ll see whether the sanctioning bodies will be willing — able? — to set aside mandatory defenses to allow it.
And, of course, unforeseen obstacles could prevent Charlo-Castano II from happening. After all, boxing has a knack of getting in its own way.
Who would win the rematch? Flip a coin. The fight on Saturday was so close, so competitive that it would be difficult to predict a winner with any conviction.
That’s the point here. The fans were hungry to see the crowning of an undisputed 154-champion but were disappointed in that regard. So were the fighters, both of whom believed they deserved to win.
I hope the powers that be can find a way to do it again. If a rematch was ever warranted, this is it.
***
WORSE
117-110 for Charlo? Nine rounds to three?
I’ve tried to imagine what judge Nelson Vazquez of Puerto Rico was seeing during the Charlo-Castano fight, which I scored 115-113 for Castano. A draw or 115-113 either way would’ve reflected what happened in the ring, not 117-110, in my opinion.
Castano didn’t throw as many punches as he normally does but I thought he got more accomplished than Charlo did, primarily during their inside exchanges. And I thought that Castano blocked many of Charlo’s punches with his gloves. He’s an excellent defensive fighter.
Charlo certainly had strong rounds, particularly Round 10, when he hurt Castano multiple times. And I have no problem with the fact all three judges gave Charlo the final three rounds. His rally was impressive.
However, after the final bell, the fighters, their camps and those watching worldwide had no idea what would come out of Jimmy Lennon’s mouth when he announced the results. That’s because everyone knew the fight was close.
Everyone but Vazquez, that is. He gave Castano only Rounds 3, 7 and 9.
Of course, scoring is subjective. Vazquez would say he called it as he saw it. The problem is that a score that strays so far from the observations of the vast majority is a red flag that something was amiss.
And nine rounds to three was an insult to Castano, who turned in a fine performance – maybe the best of his career — against one of the top fighters in the world pound for pound. He deserved better.
Thank goodness that Vazquez’s poor scoring didn’t result in a disastrous decision. We can live with a draw.
RABBIT PUNCHES
Lightweight contender Rolando Romero (14-0, 12 KOs) gave a strong performance against late replacement Anthony Yigit (24-2-1, 8 KOs) on the Charlo-Castano card, stopping the Swedish fighter in the seventh round of a scheduled 12-rounder. Romero is what he says he is: a big puncher. Yigit, a good, experienced opponent, certainly couldn’t stand up to Romero’s power. Romero called out fellow 135-pounder Gervonta Davis after the fight. Can Romero handle “Tank”? I doubt it. Davis is a better all-around fighter and probably punches harder than Romero. That said, Romero’s power is real. You never know what would happen if a big shot found Davis’ chin. I wouldn’t mind seeing that fight. … I feel for Immanuwel Aleem (18-3-2, 11 KOs). The much-improved protégé of trainer Ronnie Shields gave an inspired performance against middleweight contender Amilcar Vidal (13-0, 11 KOs) only to lose a majority decision in a 10-round bout on the Charlo-Castano card. I thought Aleem beat Vidal at his own power-punching game, getting the better of most of their inside exchanges and withstanding the shots Vidal was able to land. I gave Aleem the edge in what I thought was a close fight. Judge Anthony De Los Santos had it right, 95-95. Judges Ruben Carrion and Glen Rick Crocker both scored it 97-93, seven rounds to three, for Vidal. That was too wide in Vidal’s favor even if you believed he landed the bigger blows. Aleem had a right to be frustrated afterward. The good news is that he made a strong statement. He’ll be back.
[vertical-gallery id=21965]
Jermell Charlo and Brian Castano had to settle for split draw in their 154-pound title fight Saturday in San Antonio.
Sometimes a draw is the right result.
That might’ve been the case on Saturday night in San Antonio, where Jermell Charlo and Brian Castano – both hoping to become the first undisputed 154-pound champ – had to settle for a stalemate that allowed them to hold onto their respective belts.
And both had to overcome adversity to avoid losing. Castano survived being hurt in the second and 10th rounds while Charlo had to win the final three frames to avoid defeat.
Castano, the pressure fighter from Argentina, didn’t throw as many punches as he normally does in part out of respect for Charlo’s power. A left hook to his jaw in the second round buckled his knees, underscoring an obvious concern.
However, Castano used cautious aggression to outwork Charlo through nine rounds, generally getting the better of inside exchanges while blocking many of Charlo’s shots with his gloves.
Going into the 10th, it seemed that the underdog might be on the cusp of a significant upset. Then Charlo’s vaunted power turned the tide. He hurt Castano a number of times in Round 10, forcing him to move laterally to survive as Charlo went in for the kill.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ka0KQdrX85k
Castano recovered by the end of that round and was competitive in the final two frames. However, Charlo, warned by trainer Derrick James that he needed a knockout, fought with urgency to finish the fight with a flourish and stave off defeat.
“My coach told me I need the knockout in the ninth round and I just knew he knew what he was talking about. I trust my coach,” Charlo said.
Turns out he just needed three strong rounds to finish the fight. Tim Cheatham scored it 114-114, Steve Weisfeld had Castano winning 114-113 and Nelson Vazquez somehow scored it 117-111 for Charlo, nine rounds to three, making it a split draw. Boxing Junkie scored it 115-113 for Castano.
Thus, Charlo holds onto his IBF, WBA and WBC titles and Castano goes home with his WBO belt.
Afterward, both fighters said they believed they did enough to win the fight.
“My skills and my ability and my power … I felt like I won this fight and I deserve to be going home undisputed,” he said. Said Castano: “I won the fight. There were some rounds that he did hit me and he hit me hard, but I won this fight.”
Now what? The world was expecting the coronation of a new undisputed champion and nothing was resolved.
It remains to seen whether the sanctioning bodies will allow their titleholders to put off mandatory defenses so Charlo and Castano can do it one more time. Only this is certain: They both still are in love with the idea of being called “undisputed.”
“I want to be undisputed,” Charlo said. “That’s what I want. That’s my destiny.”
Said Castano: “I hope I get the rematch. … I need the rematch.”
The fans do, too.
[lawrence-related id=21957,21953]
Jermell Charlo and Brian Castano had to settle for split draw in their 154-pound title fight Saturday in San Antonio.
Sometimes a draw is the right result.
That might’ve been the case on Saturday night in San Antonio, where Jermell Charlo and Brian Castano – both hoping to become the first undisputed 154-pound champ – had to settle for a stalemate that allowed them to hold onto their respective belts.
And both had to overcome adversity to avoid losing. Castano survived being hurt in the second and 10th rounds while Charlo had to win the final three frames to avoid defeat.
Castano, the pressure fighter from Argentina, didn’t throw as many punches as he normally does in part out of respect for Charlo’s power. A left hook to his jaw in the second round buckled his knees, underscoring an obvious concern.
However, Castano used cautious aggression to outwork Charlo through nine rounds, generally getting the better of inside exchanges while blocking many of Charlo’s shots with his gloves.
Going into the 10th, it seemed that the underdog might be on the cusp of a significant upset. Then Charlo’s vaunted power turned the tide. He hurt Castano a number of times in Round 10, forcing him to move laterally to survive as Charlo went in for the kill.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ka0KQdrX85k
Castano recovered by the end of that round and was competitive in the final two frames. However, Charlo, warned by trainer Derrick James that he needed a knockout, fought with urgency to finish the fight with a flourish and stave off defeat.
“My coach told me I need the knockout in the ninth round and I just knew he knew what he was talking about. I trust my coach,” Charlo said.
Turns out he just needed three strong rounds to finish the fight. Tim Cheatham scored it 114-114, Steve Weisfeld had Castano winning 114-113 and Nelson Vazquez somehow scored it 117-111 for Charlo, nine rounds to three, making it a split draw. Boxing Junkie scored it 115-113 for Castano.
Thus, Charlo holds onto his IBF, WBA and WBC titles and Castano goes home with his WBO belt.
Afterward, both fighters said they believed they did enough to win the fight.
“My skills and my ability and my power … I felt like I won this fight and I deserve to be going home undisputed,” he said. Said Castano: “I won the fight. There were some rounds that he did hit me and he hit me hard, but I won this fight.”
Now what? The world was expecting the coronation of a new undisputed champion and nothing was resolved.
It remains to seen whether the sanctioning bodies will allow their titleholders to put off mandatory defenses so Charlo and Castano can do it one more time. Only this is certain: They both still are in love with the idea of being called “undisputed.”
“I want to be undisputed,” Charlo said. “That’s what I want. That’s my destiny.”
Said Castano: “I hope I get the rematch. … I need the rematch.”
The fans do, too.
[lawrence-related id=21957,21953]
Rolando Romero put Anthony Yigit down three times and took him out in the seventh round on the Jermell Charlo-Brian Castano card Saturday.
Rolando Romero simply had too much power for Anthony Yigit.
Romero put his Swedish opponent down three times and stopped him in Round 7 in a scheduled 12-round lightweight bout Saturday on the Jermell Charlo-Brian Castano card at AT&T Center in San Antonio.
Yigit, who took the fight on short notice and came in overweight, began taking heavy punches early in the fight but used good movement to stay out of serious trouble.
However, by Round 5, the hard blows began to break Yigit down. Romero lost a point in that round for punching on the break but moments later put Yigit down and hurt him with a right hand that landed a split second before the bell.
Yigit (24-2-1, 8 KOs) was able to survive in Round 6 by holding and moving but the writing seemed to be on the wall. In the following round, Romero (14-0, 12 KOs) put Yigit on the canvas again with a short right and then stopped him with a right-left combination.
The official time of the knockout was 1:54 of Round 7.
Romero was asked afterward who he would like to face next and he mentioned one of the most-dangerous fighters on the planet, fellow 135-pound contender Gervonta Davis.
Power vs. power. Something would have to give.
Rolando Romero put Anthony Yigit down three times and took him out in the seventh round on the Jermell Charlo-Brian Castano card Saturday.
Rolando Romero simply had too much power for Anthony Yigit.
Romero put his Swedish opponent down three times and stopped him in Round 7 in a scheduled 12-round lightweight bout Saturday on the Jermell Charlo-Brian Castano card at AT&T Center in San Antonio.
Yigit, who took the fight on short notice and came in overweight, began taking heavy punches early in the fight but used good movement to stay out of serious trouble.
However, by Round 5, the hard blows began to break Yigit down. Romero lost a point in that round for punching on the break but moments later put Yigit down and hurt him with a right hand that landed a split second before the bell.
Yigit (24-2-1, 8 KOs) was able to survive in Round 6 by holding and moving but the writing seemed to be on the wall. In the following round, Romero (14-0, 12 KOs) put Yigit on the canvas again with a short right and then stopped him with a right-left combination.
The official time of the knockout was 1:54 of Round 7.
Romero was asked afterward who he would like to face next and he mentioned one of the most-dangerous fighters on the planet, fellow 135-pound contender Gervonta Davis.
Power vs. power. Something would have to give.
Amilcar Vidal survived a spirted effort from Immanuwel Aleem to win a majority decision on the Jermell Charlo-Brian Castano card Saturday.
Middleweight contender Amilcar Vidal is fortunate he’s still undefeated.
The strapping Uruguayan fighter emerged with a majority-decision victory over Immanuwel Aleem on Saturday in San Antonio but the scoring will have been questioned by many who watched the fight.
Vidal (13-0, 12 KOs) has overwhelmed most of his opponents. However, Aleem (18-3-2, 11 KOs) was able to take his power and dish out plenty of punishment himself.
Aleem started out by fighting behind his jab and moving in the early rounds, when he was stalked by Vidal. However, when Vidal finally closed the distance, Aleem was happy to trade punches inside and got the better of many exchanges in what evolved into an entertaining scrap.
Neither fighter was hurt seriously, although Vidal made Aleem wince once with one of his many body shots and he got clipped himself on a number of occasions.
In the end, it seemed the back-and-forth fight could’ve gone either way but two judges thought Vidal won handily. One scored it 95-95 while the other two, apparently believing Vidal landed the bigger shots, had him winning 97-93.
Thus, the 25-year-old from Montevideo remained on course toward a world title shot. And while Aleem came up short, everyone watching undoubtedly was impressed with his effort. He took a step forward in defeat.
Vidal and Aleem fought on the undercard of the Jermell Charlo-Brian Castano card at AT&T Center.
