Jermell Charlo vs. Brian Castano II | Showtime - May 14, 2022

[Mexi-Box]

Yeah, read that "rushed into the fight" comment from Castano. That doesn't sound good. The dude seems to have odd issues. Supposedly, he was supposed to fight at 147, but IIRC, he either fainted or almost died trying to make weight. Insane considering he's not a big guy. He's a small 154 fighter, and probably an average-sized welterweight. The dude seems rather odd, tbh. Anyways, I'll take nothing away from Charlo if he manages to pull off the KO. He'll be looking for it the whole night like he did against Harrison. Again, I thought Harrison was dominating that second fight, and while Harrison's chin is pretty poor, Castano doesn't seem to have a weak one.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Jermell Charlo vs. Brian Castano II Finalized For Crypto.com Arena in LA on 3/19

The super welterweight championship unification bout and rematch between WBC, WBA and IBF titlist Jermell Charlo and WBO crownholder Brian Castano has finalized a home.

A 154-pound undisputed champion should be crowned – barring another draw just like their 2021 fight of the year contender – on March 19 at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

As Boxing Scene previously reported, the Premier Boxing Champions event will not be a pay-per-view event, but instead, a “Showtime Championship Boxing” series card on the premium cable network.

Although an official announcement has not yet been made, AXS.com has published ticket information around the event, directing fans to a sale starting Friday at 10 a.m. PST. A presale started Wednesday.

WBO super welterweight mandatory challenger Tim Tszyu (20-0, 15 KO) could fight Terrell Gausha (22-2-1, 11 KO) on the undercard, according to an ESPN report.

Charlo (34-1-1, 18 KOs) and Castano (17-0-2, 12 KOs) battled to a split draw on July 17 at AT&T Center in San Antonio.

Castano connected with 173 punches while Charlo landed 151. Castano had a sizable edge in power shots, landing 164 compared to Charlo's 98. Judge Nelson Vazquez scored it 117-111 for Charlo, while Steve Weisfeld had it 114-113 for Castano. Tim Cheatham had it a draw at 114-114.

Should a winner emerge next month, the victor will be just the third active undisputed champion in the sport, joining super middleweight crownholder Canelo Alvarez and junior welterweight champion Josh Taylor.

With Vergil Ortiz headlining a Golden Boy card at USC's Galen Center against Michael McKinson on the same night, Tinseltown will have two shows being staged just minutes away from each other.

Charlo versus Castano II will mark the first boxing card to take place at Crypto.com Arena, the venue formerly known as Staples Center.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Tim Tszyu may fight on the undercard of this bout.

[gregregegg]

Tim Tszyu may fight on the undercard of this bout.

Hope so. Needs to apply pressure to the winner, and needs to stay active. hope castano wins, even though charlo would be a bigger fight for tim, i think charlo would bail up a div.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Excellent US debut for Tim

[Ruthless-RKO]

Brian Castano On Jermell Charlo: “In The Division, I Think He Hits The Hardest”

An effervescent smile was immediately spread across the face of Brian Castano. Having just gone 12 hard rounds with unified super welterweight champion Jermell Charlo on July 17th, 2021, Castano believed that his undisputed title dreams were mere moments away from becoming reality.

As Castano clutched his WBO title and waited patiently for the scorecards to be read, he was incredulous with the final results. Although judge Steve Weisfeld scored it 114-113, in his favor, he was overruled by Nelson Vazquez who handed in a scorecard of 117-111 in favor of Charlo, and Tim Cheatham who viewed it 114-114.

Despite having more than six months to process what took place and review the tape, Castano is still stunned by the final verdict.

“Look, I’ve watched it many times,” said Castano during an interview with K.O. Artist Sports. “I think that of the 12 rounds, I won seven. Seven rounds I won, it was 7-5. It was, after all, a fight where I carried it. I took the initiative. He boxed retreating from the outside. He connected with some good shots but the better punches I connected with.”

According to the numbers, Castano out-landed Charlo, 173 to 151. But while those numbers were ultimately close, Castano had the landing edge in eight of their 12 rounds.

Even with his moderately higher work rate, Castano admits that there were several moments in their contest where he was in big trouble, including in the penultimate round. Although he would eventually weather the storm and fight fire with fire, Castano reveals that despite the 154 pound division housing several pernicious punchers, Charlo’s name should be at the top.

“In rounds two and ten I was hurt and then after in the 11th. I think he’s one of the hardest punchers I’ve faced. He has a respectable punch. In the division, I think he, more or less, hits the hardest.”

Regardless of Castano acknowledging that Charlo is a deleterious puncher, he’s willing to move right back into the fire. The two are officially slated to face off on March 19th, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Ruthless-RKO]

[DrDuke]

Everything is against this fight.

[gregregegg]

Keep the date. Throw Tim tszyu in with charlo.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Keep the date. Throw Tim tszyu in with charlo.

Why not..

Team No Limit are pushing the mandatory WBO shot..

Why not go for 3 belts??

[Ruthless-RKO]

Brian Castano, TGB Promotions Given 24 Hours To "Show Cause" To Avoid WBO-Ordered Mandatory Title Defense

Brian Castano is officially on the clock.

In the wake of an untimely injury forcing a postponement of his March 19 rematch with Jermell Charlo, Argentina’s Castano (17-0-2, 12KOs) is now at the mercy of the WBO. The unbeaten junior middleweight titlist has been ordered by the Puerto Rico-based sanctioning body to show cause as to why he should not have to commit to an overdue mandatory title defense versus Australia’s Tim Tszyu.

The fallout comes just hours after a breaking news story from BS.com revealing that Castano suffered a slight biceps tear during training camp ahead of his planned WBA/WBC/IBF/WBO/Iineal junior middleweight championship rematch with Houston’s Charlo (34-1-1, 18KOs). The bout was due to take place at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, with the undercard to include Tszyu (20-0, 15KOs) in a crossroads bout with 2012 U.S. Olympian and veteran trialhorse Terrel Gausha. It appears that Tszyu and promoter Matt Rose—head of No Limit Promotions—are not interested in yet another delay to an already owed title shot, which in turn has forced the WBO’s hand.

“Please be advised that the WBO World Championship Committee confirmed receipt of email correspondence by Mr. Matt Rose of “No Limit” Promotions and representative of Tim Tszyu indicating that TGB Promotions informed Mr. Rose that the Undisputed WBO, WBA, WBC & IBF Jr. Middleweight Championship Contest between Jermell Charlo and Brian Castano scheduled for Saturday, March 19, 2022, at the Crypto Arena, in Los Angeles, California had been canceled due to an injury suffered by Brian Castano,” Luis Batista-Salas, chairman of the WBO Championship Committee informed TGB, Charlo and Sebastian Contursi—Castano’s manager—in an official letter, a copy of which was obtained by BS.com. “[T]herefore, Castano is unavailable to participate as scheduled.

“Consequently, TGB Promotions informed Mr. Rose that the Charlo/Castano would be rescheduled for either the months of May or June of 2022. Considering the preceding circumstances and Mr. Rose’s objection that the WBO Mandatory title defense is further delayed, he requests that this Committee proceeds with the immediate enforcement of the WBO Mandatory title defense between Brian Castano and Tim Tszyu accordingly.”

The WBO previously agreed to delay its ordering of the mandatory junior middleweight title fight, with the understanding that Castano would proceed with an undisputed rematch with Charlo. The two fought to a split decision draw last July 17, with Charlo winning 117-111 on one card, Castano winning 114-113 on another and the third card (114-114) producing the stalemate in their entertaining Showtime headliner from AT&T Center in San Antonio.

Charlo was eager to move forward with the rematch as early as possible, though forced to wait for the first quarter of 2022. Hopes of staging the fight February 26 were pushed back to March 19, which further tested the patience of the four sanctioning bodies—all of whom have mandatory challengers in waiting.

Pushing the fight out to May or later has drawn concern from Tszyu, which compromises the WBO’s position in granting another exception.

For now, the onus is on Castano and TGB to convince the sanctioning body otherwise.

“TGB Promotions has 24 hours upon issuance of this notice letter to “Show Cause” why the WBO World Championship Committee shall not order the enforcement of the Mandatory Title Defense between Brian Castano and Tim Tszyu, and order negotiations immediately between the parties,” noted Batista-Salas.

Castano claimed the WBO title in a twelve-round, unanimous decision win over Brazil’s Patrick Teixeira last February 13. His lone defense came in the aforementioned draw with Charlo last July.

Charlo has made two defenses of the WBC title he regained in a December 2019 eleventh-round knockout of Tony Harrison, avenging a controversial points loss exactly 52 weeks prior. Both title defenses came in unification bouts, stopping Jeison Rosario in the eighth round of their September 2020 lineal/WBC/WBA/IBF championship clash, followed by the draw with Castano.

If the WBO orders Castano-Tszyu, Charlo would be left to satisfy his mandatory title defense obligations. Bakhram Murtazaliev (19-0. 14KOs) has been the IBF number-one contender since November 2019, though since accepting stay-busy fights on Charlo’s last two undercards. Israil Madrimov (8-0, 6KOs) became the WBA mandatory following a controversial ninth-round stoppage of Michel Soro last December 17 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

[Enlightened-One]

Disappointing news! I wanted to see the rematch.

Castano should be capable of beating Tim Tszyu though and then face Jermell Charlo afterwards.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Bandog]

So, if Mell refuses to fight Tszyu, he will be stripped by the WBO if I heard correctly?

[Ruthless-RKO]

So, if Mell refuses to fight Tszyu, he will be stripped by the WBO if I heard correctly?

Mel doesn’t have the WBO belt though.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Bandog]

Just read that Crawford wants the winner of this if he doesn't get the winner of Spence/Ugas.

[KiwiRider]

What a mess.
Does Castano deserve a rematch with Charlo?
Yes, of course.
Does Tszyu deserve his #1 mandatory shot?
Yes, he has waited long enough.

What a mess. If life was fair Charlo would fight Tszyu, and Castano would fight the winner.

[Bandog]

What a mess.
Does Castano deserve a rematch with Charlo?
Yes, of course.
Does Tszyu deserve his #1 mandatory shot?
Yes, he has waited long enough.

What a mess. If life was fair Charlo would fight Tszyu, and Castano would fight the winner.

Charlos seem to be enjoying their money a little too much, talking like gangstas. I doubt he'll fight Tszyu. If Crawford moves, so will he.

[margaret thatcher]

craw vs winner would be a nice fight, doubt either happens though

[gregregegg]

What a mess.
Does Castano deserve a rematch with Charlo?
Yes, of course.
Does Tszyu deserve his #1 mandatory shot?
Yes, he has waited long enough.

What a mess. If life was fair Charlo would fight Tszyu, and Castano would fight the winner.

Charlos seem to be enjoying their money a little too much, talking like gangstas. I doubt he'll fight Tszyu. If Crawford moves, so will he.

I cant see why he wouldent fight Tim, think theres more money there than he gets anywhere else (except is spence moves up). Tim tszyu vs charlo for a belt (or all the belts) would be a massive PPV in aus.. tszyus name probably has a big of recognition in USA too.

Tim fighting undercard first is perfect though if your going to build it.

[KiwiRider]

What a mess.
Does Castano deserve a rematch with Charlo?
Yes, of course.
Does Tszyu deserve his #1 mandatory shot?
Yes, he has waited long enough.

What a mess. If life was fair Charlo would fight Tszyu, and Castano would fight the winner.

Charlos seem to be enjoying their money a little too much, talking like gangstas. I doubt he'll fight Tszyu. If Crawford moves, so will he.

I cant see why he wouldent fight Tim, think theres more money there than he gets anywhere else (except is spence moves up). Tim tszyu vs charlo for a belt (or all the belts) would be a massive PPV in aus.. tszyus name probably has a big of recognition in USA too.

Tim fighting undercard first is perfect though if your going to build it.

Agree with that
Dunno about American name recognition though. Bit of time has passed since poppa was banging them out, and he wasn't HW.

[Ruthless-RKO]

WBO Has Yet To Rule On Sanctioning For Rescheduled Rematch; Decision Expected In Coming Days

Jermell Charlo and Brian Castano continue to await a forthcoming decision by the WBO to determine the fate of their planned rematch.

Boxing Scene has learned that the WBO Championship Committee has not yet ruled on whether to allow the Charlo-Castano rematch to move to another date or to call for Castano to make a mandatory title defense. A final decision is expected by no later than the first week of March, with the hope that the fight can move to a new date with all four major titles (WBA/WBC/IBF/WBO) at stake.

The pending bout is a rematch to their terrific showdown that failed to produce a winner last July 17 at AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. Castano (17-0-2, 12KOs)—the reigning WBO titlist—won by score of 114-113 on the card of Steve Weisfeld, while Charlo—who holds the lineal/WBA/WBC/IBF crowns—was given the nod by judge Nelson Vazquez, whose scorecard of 117-111 generated massive public scorn.

Judge Tim Cheatham (114-114) had the fight dead even, thus producing a split decision draw and with the sport left without its first-ever four-belt undisputed junior middleweight champion.

The reported injury prompted the WBO to issue a ‘Show Cause’ letter to Castano, who was given ten days to state his case—with medical proof of injury—as to why the delay shouldn’t prompt the sanctioning body to order a mandatory title fight. BS.com has learned that Castano has complied, to include his submitting medical verification of a slight biceps tear forcing the unbeaten Argentinean out of a planned March 19 fight date with Charlo (34-1-1, 18KOs).

The injury—suffered earlier this month—forced Castano to officially withdraw from the rematch as BS.com reported on February 16. The development drew concern from the team surrounding Tim Tszyu (20-0, 15KOs), Castano’s current mandatory challenger who is eager to receive his due title shot. Tszyu was scheduled to face 2012 U.S. Oympian and current junior middleweight gatekeeper Terrel Gausha on the Charlo-Castano II undercard which they were reportedly made to understand would take place February 26.

The date was never formally announced, as Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) instead revealed in a 71-word press release on February 3 that the show would take place March 19 at Crypto.com Arena (formerly Staples Center) in Los Angeles. A virtual press conference was to have taken place during mid-February, though details were never released. Instead came news of Castano’s injury and the unwelcomed postponement.

A strongly worded protest was filed by Matt Rose of No Limit Boxing, Tszyu’s promoter who claimed to have “agreed to “defend the [WBO] Global title against Terrel Gausha on February 26 in Houston on the provisions of fighting the winner of the unification bout between Brian Castano v Jermell Charlo.

“This date however changed venues and locations to… 19 March in LA. However, nothing official was announced. We have been waiting the last two weeks for the official announcement of 19 March which was finally going to happen (February 16).”

Boxing Scene has confirmed that Castano’s team has challenged the suggestion of the fight ever being set for February 26, specifically that they never agreed to the rematch taking place in Charlo’s Houston hometown. Their obvious concern was getting a fair shake given the outcome of the first fight.

The February 26 date was speculated through the media though never formally announced by PBC or Showtime, the latter who televised the first fight and is expected to present the rematch. The March 19 date obviously no longer remains in play for the rematch, with the concern that any ruling from the WBO disallowing its title to be at stake could trigger a chain reaction.

The failure to produce a winner from the first fight has further delayed plans for all four sanctioning bodies to order their mandatory title defenses.

Bakhram Murtazaliev (19-0, 14KOs) has been the IBF mandatory since November 2019, having since agreed to back-to-back stay busy fights on the undercard of Charlo’s eighth round knockout of Jeison Rosario in their September 2020 lineal/WBC/WBA/IBF unification bout and Charlo-Castano I. The IBF has agreed to delay its ordering of Charlo-Murtazaliev as long as both parties were in agreement and that no obstacles stood in the way of Charlo-Castano II.

Israil Madrimov (8-0, 6KOs) became the WBA mandatory following a controversial ninth-round stoppage of Michel Soro last December 17 in his home country of Uzbekistan. The WBC mandatory will be determined in the forthcoming clash between former title challenger Erickson Lubin and unbeaten Sebastian Fundora. The fight is tentatively set for April 9, though it could move with the rest of the springtime Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) schedule.

A ruling in favor of Charlo-Castano II moving forward with all of the belts at stake would likely come with Tszyu moving forward with his planned fight with Gausha. That fight was taken by Tszyu with the agreement that his mandatory title shot would come next.


Approval of Charlo-Castano II would have to come with event handlers securing a new date and potentially a new location. Any such plans of staging the fight in late April would leave the Crypto.com Arena out of the mix, as the venue is booked every Saturday in April.

The venue is available on May 14 and May 21, although one or both of the dates could become occupied depending on how things shake out with the NBA and NHL postseason schedules. The NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers and L.A. Clippers and the NHL’s L.A. Kings are all currently eligible to make the playoffs, though with plenty of time left in the regular season for both leagues.

Charlo is a two-time WBC titleholder, having reclaimed the belt in an eleventh-round knockout of Tony Harrison in their December 2019 rematch. Charlo avenged his lone career defeat with the win, which took place exactly 52 weeks prior to their first fight which saw Harrison claim a disputed points win.

Two title defenses have followed for Charlo, both coming in unification bouts. He defended the WBC belt while claiming the WBA “Super” and IBF titles in an eighth-round knockout of Jeison ‘Banana’ Rosario in September 2020. An unwelcome ten-month ring absence came ahead of his split decision draw with Castano, who won the WBO belt in a twelve-round, unanimous decision over Patrick Teixeira last February 13 in Indio, California.

The fight came more than fifteen months after Castano’s previous ring appearance, who waited out the process to claim the title. History essentially repeats itself, with Castano’s fate once again left in the hands of the WBO Championship Committee.

[Ruthless-RKO]