By Chris Williams: Jermell Charlo was FURIOUS on Wednesday after Tony Harrison said he suspected potential foul play due to him drinking water from a colored Gatorade bottle during their rematch on December 21 at the Toyota Arena in Ontario, California. Harrison says it wasn’t water that Charlo was drinking from that bottom.
Harrison (28-3, 21 KOs) says the California Commission “dropped the ball” by not ensuring that Charlo (33-1, 17 KOs) only rank water from a clear bottle.
Charlo, 29, stopping Harrison in round 11 after knocking him down twice in the round. Earlier in the fight, Charlo had dropped Harrison in round 2. At the time of the stoppage in the 11th, Charlo was ahead on two of the judges’ scorecards by the scores 96-93, 96-93, and the third judge had it for Harrison 95-94.
As for a trilogy fight, Charlo says there WON’T be one. Charlo is moving on, and going after all the other belts at 154, he says.
Harrison sounds off on Charlo rematch
“Madeindetroit1990: I just don’t understand how inspectors and California commissioners could drop the ball like this in a world championship fight,” said Harrison on his Instagram about his rematch with Jermell Charlo. “The rule is in between rounds you can only drink water in clear sealed bottles seeming that tgb provided the water that was being drank in the Gatorade bottle!
“Inspectors and commissions one job is to protect the safety of fighters seeming that all the deaths in sport of boxing had occurred but now we have people like this that want the edge no matter who’s on the other end. I’m disgusted with the sport I love not so much with him because his job is to try to get over but, I caught it.
“He didn’t start off drinking whatever was in the bottle until about round 4, until it ended. Head trainer Dereck James never cosigned what was going on never touched that bottle that was getting passed on the sides. They crowded him. It was really hard to see til I watched the fight time and time again.
“He can say he was drinking anything, but fact is it def [definitely] wasn’t water! Do I want the fight overturned? Not at al. I feel I should have beaten him regardless, but I’m def calling a spade a spade, and the playing field just wasn’t even in a world championship fight!!
“Whatever comes from this for me it is what it is, but I’m def going to bring awareness to the world and whoever fights next to be aware like the sport says, ‘Protect YOURSELF at all times.’ They mean that literally!”
Harrison sounds angry about what he believes took place during his rematch with Charlo, but it doesn’t look like there’s going to be a third fight. Charlo is already moving on.
Harrison beat Charlo by a close 12 round decision in their first fight in December 2018 in an upset win. The two were supposed to fight each other in a rematch last summer. The rematch was delayed due to Harrison suffering an injury.
Jermell responds to Harrison on Instagram
“I knocked you b— out you out in front of your family,” said Jermell to Harrison on his Instagram. “I earned that belt back, I got drug tested by VADA @WBCboxing every week. Stop trying to get fans to vouch for that a– whooping I gave your a–. Own up to it. I ain’t going to let the fact that you pulled out of June 23. Scary b—.
“twincharlo’s It’s Usual After I Knock A Mfer Out,” said Jermell. “They Wait Until Momma Stop Giving Em Milk And Start Talk S— again. Hello To My World.. THEY CALL ME MR. KEEPRUNNINYAMOUTH..True, I Got 1L [loss] but I Grew To Love It.. Now This Savage Ain’t Got S— To Lose. Now he [Harrison] Making Excuses. Ain’t No FIGHT 3. Headed for all the belts while they Watch Ringside #LionsOnly #OHBforever,” said Chrlo.