Jermell Charlo vs. Brian Castano – For All The Marbles

Saturday, July 17th, 6 PM PST – Showtime | AT&T Center, San Antonio, Texas,

Rather silently, WBC/WBA and IBF junior middleweight world champion Jermell Charlo is looking to become yet another undisputed champion, as the last one to accomplish this feat was Teofimo Lopez, last year, when he defeated Vasyl Lomachenko.

“This is a major fight because it’s history for me and my family. It’s huge for everyone that I represent and that’s been supporting me for all these years. It was due time to get in there for this fight. The belts and the money are not on my mind. What’s on my mind is the legacy,” said Charlo. “I’ve got belts on belts and he’s got one belt. I’m ready to take that strap too. I’ve been paying attention to what he’s been doing. I haven’t just been sitting around since I fought Jeison Rosario. I’ve been working.”

In order to become undisputed Charlo must defeat Brian Castano, a tough Argentian pressure fighter with a lot to prove to the world after his dominant win over WBO world champion, Patrick Teixeira.

Charlo, who only has one to his ledger in 35 fights which he would avenge against Tony Harrison, has competed 234 rounds as a professional with a 51% KO ratio, compare that to Castano, who in his 18 bouts has gone 108 rounds with a 66% KO ratio.

The biggest attribute to Castano is he keeps his hands up high while applying pressure, making him not the easiest person to hit, even though he is a pressure fighter. This was most evident in his fight against former world champion Erislandy Lara, in which he forced Lara to be more active than Lara would have hoped, and fought Lara to a draw.

“This is one of the most important fights in Argentina’s history. It’s for four belts, undisputed at 154 pounds. It’s a great opportunity for my team, my manager, my family and most importantly, for me. This will be the hardest fight of my career,” said Castano. ““I think that Charlo is in the prime of his career as well. That’s why I looked for this fight. This is the fight I’ve been looking for because we are both in the best moment of our career, and I want to take advantage of it.”

The odds at DraftKings are close as well as Jermell Charlo is a -250 favorite, with Brian Castano being just a slight underdog at +180.

“I haven’t punched Castaño yet so I don’t know what his chin will do when I hit him. I know he’s got a big heart. I’m just going to do what I do, which is what everyone knows that I do. Everyone sees what I can do each time I get into the ring,” said Charlo. “I’ve suffered my whole life, so there’s nothing in this world that can make me suffer more than what I went through growing up. Castaño is a great fighter who puts on a lot of pressure. But I know my abilities and I know my power. Every punch I throw is dominant and every shot I throw is painful for my opponent. I have a lot of unique abilities in me and I’m going to bring some tricks into this fight.”

Charlo has a six-inch reach advantage, and seven of his last nine fight have ended by way of knockout, with a majority decision win over former world champion Austin Trout, and a loss to Tony Harrison sprinkled in there.

If all things are equal, Charlo is the more dynamic fighter, he can box, he can punch, he can pressure, he can evade. The big question is; is Castano’s pressure at such a level it can negate having more dimensions than one?

That being said, a lot of the people I respect heavily favor Castano for one major reason, Jermell Charlo falls in love in his power, and Castano lives and dies by his volume. If Castano can take Charlo’s power, Castano has the style that is all wrong for Jermell Charlo, especially late.

The fight can play out many ways, but small internal battles will show how it will play out. The first being, can Castano take Charlo’s punch. If so, then the next question will be, will Charlo be content to fight on the outside and outbox Castano, or will he live and die by the power, because you could make the argument, Castano can fight a similar fight that Tony Harrison fought in their first meeting, the one in which Charlo lost.

Charlo has not been mention amongst the Teofimo Lopez’s, the Usyk’s, or Terence Crawford’s, but with a win, on Saturday he would achieve what made them great, unifying all four belts to be an undisputed champion.

This is a fight to watch if you like boxing as the winner will be one of the best fighters in the sport of boxing, and the most accomplished junior middleweight in the four-belt era.

The Rolly Era – Rolando Romero vs. Anthony Yigit

On the Showtime card as co-main event, see above for start time

Rolando Romero is a big puncher, who has unimaginable power for the 135 lbs, lightweight division, bullying and beating most of the fighters he faces. Romero was originally set to face Austin Dulay of Nashville, Tennessee, but Dulay pulled out two weeks prior to the bout, now Anthony Yigit, who was on the undercard previous will fill-in.

Romero, who holds the WBA lightweight interim world title, is with Mayweather Promotions, and in 13 fights has a 85% KO ratio and gone all of 44 rounds in the ring. The big thing for Rolly is ring time something that will add up, as he goes to the next level, and help with the big fights.

The Swede, Yigit has fought in three redevelopment fights in Germany after his lone loss, a seventh-round stoppage to Ivan Baranchyk, which was for the vacant IBF super lightweight world title. Romero is a lot like Baranchyk, in what makes him elite is pressure and power.

Yigit is a career 140 lber, but according to BoxingScene.com, the bout will take place at 135 lbs. Yigit is a boxer, a spoiler and a southpaw, as he could realistic cause some issues in this bout.

If Rolando wins a fight with lightweight Michel Rivera seems on the horizon.

Amilcar Vidal vs. Immanuwel Aleem – Vidal Looks To Be A Contender

Middleweight Vidal fighting out of Coachella, California, is managed by Sampson Lewkowicz, will face Immanuwel Aleem, who is coming off a majority decision loss to Ronald Ellis in his last fight.

Vidal is 25-year-old big puncher, who has beaten four undefeated fighters so far, but none many might know of as household names. Vidal hails from Uruguay.

Aleem’s most notable win is his KO victory over Ievgen Khytrov, who was one of the biggest propsects in boxing at the time. Other notable bouts have ended in draws as his bout with Matt Korobov and Demond Nicholson ended that way. Aleem was also stopped in three-rounds by Hugo Centeno Jr., and lost a majority decision as previously mentioned to Ronald Ellis.

Noteworthy Undercard Bouts

Egis Klimas managed Bakhram Murtazaliev will be featured on the card. Murtazaliev also fights at 154 lbs, like the main event fighters, and though he has no noteworthy wins looks to be a tough fighter who belongs at the world-level of boxing.

Xavier Nunez, an amateur standout, will be fighting in his second pro fight at just 18-years-old. The fighter is a Texas native, being managed by Ruben Mendoza, and fights at the featherweight division. Nunez could end up on these cards in Texas, if he proves to be a ticket seller, could get built in this market.

Former World Champion Ray Beltran Returns

Friday, July 16th, | Legends Event Center, Phoenix, Arizona – Tickets (623)282-2110

Former lightweight world champion Ray Beltran returns in Phoenix, Arizona on Friday night. Beltran is one of the most well-respected fighters amongst his peers, and though I am not sure where the journey continues for him after Friday, Beltran is a world-class fighter, who for local fans, in the Phoenix area, it will be fun to see him fight locally.

The card also features Moises Rosales versus Gregory Cruz, a battle of two unbeaten lightweights, and Danny Barrios Flores fighting for the vacant Arizona State featherweight title against Edward Ceballos in a six-round bout.

Friday, July 16th, | Buckhead Fight Club, Atlanta, Georgia

Heavyweight Decaree Scott, who made it the Olympic Trials in 2019, will fight for his sixth time as professional. Scott is trained by Coach Mustafa Meekins, Scott has won all of his fights by KO, and is promoted by Greg Cohen. This will be his first six-round bout.

For MMA Fans –

Bellator returns to Showtime, Friday July 16th, a day before the Charlo fight.

Friday, July 16th, 6PM PST – Showtime, Mohegan Sun Arena | Uncasville, Connecticut

Women’s flyweight champion Juliana Velasquez will defend her title against Denise Kielholtz in the main event. Velasquez won the belt from Ilima-Lei Macfarlane, a star in Bellator’s organization, and will look to make her first fight with the title as not just a defense, but a statement. Velasquez will more than likely rematch Ilima-Lei Macfarlane in the near future, due to Macfarlane’s star power in the organization.

Co-main event features former UFC heavyweight contender Matt Mitrione in action against Tyrell Fortune, who has a strong wrestling background.

UFC Card on ESPN

Saturday, July 17th, 7 PM PST – ESPN, UFC Apex | Las Vegas, Nevada

The UFC returns with a card Saturday night, July 17th, with a few standout bouts, most notable being the return of Miesha Tate to the octagon taking on veteran Marion Reneau in the co-main event. Tate’s last bout in the UFC was five years ago, and excited the organization on a two-fight losing streak, after winning the UFC world title from Holly Holm, a fight prior.

Mateusz Gamrot taking on Jeremey Stephens is another notable attraction.

The main event features Islam Makhachev, the heir apparent to Khabib Nurmagomedov’s wrestling dynasty as he faces Thiago Moises, at the top of the card.

Former World Title Challenger Yves Ulysse Jr. Takes On David Theroux

Shawinigan, Quebec, Friday, July 16th, no TV or Stream

Yves Ulysse Jr., who at one time was fighting on Golden Boy Promotions shows, and fought Ismael Barroso for the WBA Gold Super Lightweight title, a title that was only contested for once, on that evening in 2019, and has not once be defended, returns to fight David Theroux. Ulysse Jr. is a talented fighter best known for his win over Cletus Seldin, a fighter who HBO seemed to be invested in at the time.

The bout will be for the NABF super lightweight title, which should get Ulysse Jr. a higher ranking in the WBC. With a win, Ulysse will end up in a meaningful fight on TV.

Ryad Merhy vs. Zhaoxin Zhang, For WBA Cruiserweight Title

The division the internet say they love, but rarely watch – cruiserweight will have a world title bout this weekend.

Merhy is a Belgian boxer with support who will be fighting at home, who was elevated from an interim world champion to regular champion earlier this year will face Zhaoxin Zhang who has never fought outside of China, and looks like a perfect hand-selected opponent for a homecoming. Merhy is being ticket seller.

Merhy is 29-1, with 24 KO’s, with his only loss coming to Arsen Goulamirian in 2018, an undefeated fighter who trained with Abel Sanchez at the time.

Mike Gavronski Returns After Loss To David Morrell

Saturday, July 17th, Parkway Bank Sports Complex, Rosemont, Illinois

Mike Gavronski is a tough local favorite in the Chicago-area and is returning after a brutal knockout loss to surging super middleweight David Morrell in three rounds. Gavronski will look to get a win on this card, and parlay that into a big fight, as he faces Chris Chatman. A win allows Gavronski another chance at a promotional a-side fighter on TV, coming in on the wrong corner.

Notable cruiserweight, Robin Safar will face Josue Obando, who has an upside down record. Safar is a puncher from Sweeden, who relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada.

Ronald Cruz Returns In Iowa

Saturday, July 17th, 4:30 PM PST | Rock Rapids, Iowa Link

The WBC Latino Super-Welterweight Champion Ronald Cruz will be fighting in Iowa. Cruz is fighting a division with a lot of notable names is 17-1, with a record like that a form of a WBC belt to his name, he will get a chance sooner rather than later.