Charlo vs. Derevyanchenko and Jermell vs Rosario preview & prediction

By Boxing News - 09/21/2020 - Comments

By Allan Fox: Jermall Charlo will be making a defense of his WBC middleweight title against Sergiy Derevyanchenko, and Jermell Charlo is battling the fearsome puncher Jerison Rosario this Saturday on SHOWTIME PPV. The event will be taking place at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut.

Jermall vs. Derevyanchenko portion of the card on Showtime will start at 7:00 p.m. ET/4:00 p.m. PT. After their three-fight event is done, there will be 30 minutes before the next portion of the card begins featuring Jermell vs. Rosario.

WBC junior middleweight champion Jermell (33-1, 17 KOs) will be taking on IBF/WBA 154lb champ Rosario (20-1-1, 14 KOs) in the headliner in a dual card. The Jermell-Rosario three-fight card will be the last half of the event, which sells for $74.95 on pay-per-view.

It’s unclear what went into deciding which of the Charlo twins would headline the event, as they’re similar fighters. Although WBC middleweight champion Jermall (30-0, 22 KOs) is unbeaten, he failed to impress against Matt Korobov and Austin Trout.

Derevyanchenko technically beat GGG

“Right now, there’s no doubt in my mind that Derevyanchenko is the best fighter that Charlo has fought, and Charlo has been a champion for a little while now. So that’s a little bit of a statement,” said Atlas on The Fight with Teddy Atlas. “Jermall Charlo is the middleweight, and Jermell is the junior middleweight.

Image: Charlo vs. Derevyanchenko and Jermell vs Rosario preview & prediction

“Some might point to Austin Trout, but Trout was older, used up and shopworn when Charlo fought him,” said Teddy in talking about Jermall’s best opponent to date on his record.

“Charlo was too young and strong for Trout, and it was actually a good style match-up for Charlo. But Trout was the best guy he’d fought as far as name and resume. He [Jermall] caught [Julian ‘J-Rock’] Williams with a good clean shot

“Derevyanchenko has shown his worth. I think technically he probably beat GGG in his last fight, and I didn’t think he beat Jacobs. I think what matters in that fight is he showed he belongs.

“He belongs at the top of the class at middleweight, and that he could handle any of them. He could fit in with any of them. So Derevyanchenko is simple. He’s not complicated. He’s a guy that brings it.

“He throws a lot of punches. Oh my goodness, he throws so many punches. You better have your cardio in place, and also your defense. He’s not a huge puncher, but as I say, he’s a volume guy, and he makes those CompuBox guys have to ice their fingers down.

“He does not stop, and he’s got the chin to do it. He can stay in there, and he’s got the physical ability to endure,” said Teddy.

Derevyanchenko doesn’t have a super high punch output the way Atlas portrays him. What makes him seem to be a guy with a high punch volume is that he’s always attacking his opponents. If Charlo thinks he’s going to be able to set the pace, he’s going to have problems doing that.

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Atlas picking Derevyancheko over Jermall

“What do you have with Charlo?” Atlas continued. “He’s similar but bigger than his brother, and he’s a good, solid fighter technically with confidence. And he’s undefeated and hasn’t learned how to lose ye.

“He’s physically strong, but he’s right in front of you too. I know he’ll negotiate distance and do what fighters should do at that level, but it’ not like you got to go looking for him.

“That’s good news for Derevyanchenko because he’s going to be right there, and he’s going to be basically bringing his lunch pail because that’s the kind of fighter he is. He’s going to bring his lunch pail and say, ‘Hey, I’m here for the day. How about you?’

Image: Charlo vs. Derevyanchenko and Jermell vs Rosario preview & prediction

“It should be a fun fight to watch. I’m going to go with the upset. I’m going to say three is a charm, and he’s [Derevyanchenko] has already fought for the title twice.

“He may be deserved to win the last one [against GGG]. He fought Jacobs and then Golovkin. And he didn’t obviously get either one of them. I’m going to say the third is the charm, and he’s going to win the title in what would be a nice upset against Charlo.

“Am I going to be shocked if Charlo wins that? Of course not. I’m picking the underdog. If you’re picking the underdog, you already know that most people don’t think he’s going to win.

“So I wouldn’t be shocked if the favorite [Jermall] won, but I’m going to say this is a spot where it might not be a bad play to put a little haircut money on Mr. Derevyanchenko.

Image: Charlo vs. Derevyanchenko and Jermell vs Rosario preview & prediction

What Atlas didn’t discuss is the A-side element that will be in play for Jermall on Saturday. He’s the money guy, the more popular fighter of the two, and we had already seen Jermall get a questionable victory over Matt Korobov in 2018, and that fight wasn’t close.

Derevyanchenko may need a knockout for him to beat Charlo because he’s probably not going to get any favors from the judges.

Jeison Rosario vs. Jermell Charlo analysis 

“It’s going to be an interesting fight, I like the fight,” said Atlas on the Jermell Charlo vs. Jeison Rosario.

“We know Charlo’s track record is there. He’s consistent with what he is. We’re not sure what we’re going to get out of Rosario. That’s what’s going to be interesting.

“I think it’s going to be a good entertaining fight based on their styles. I think they both like to engage. [Tony] Harrison, who is not known as an inside fighter, was beating Charlo in the trenches.

“Can Rosario do the same? I think Charlo is definitely beatable, but he’s a solid, physically strong guy, who has probably fewer holes and gaps in his style than Rosario. He’s been more consistent.

Image: Charlo vs. Derevyanchenko and Jermell vs Rosario preview & prediction

“We know his body of work, and he’s been steadier [than Rosario]. So I’m going to go with him by a unanimous decision or a late-round stoppage. But again, in a very interesting fight, but I’m going t go with Charlo.

Between the two Charlo brothers, Jermell is the more vulnerable one. He lost to Tony Harrison in 2018, and he likely would have been beaten in the rematch if he didn’t score a late 11th round knockout last December.

Rosario, 25, is a lot younger than the 30-year-old Charlo, and he’s coming off of a career-best 5th round knockout victory over Julian Williams lack January.

In Charlo having fun with all the money he’s made in the last two years of his career, he doesn’t look focused on boxing anymore.

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Even if Charlo did, though, his bad habit of fighting off emotion could get him knocked out against Rosario. The last thing Charlo can afford is to fight angrily against a young lion like Rosario because he’ll get taken out.