WBC World Middleweight Champion and Houston native Jermall Charlo couldn’t have been happier to be fighting at home—and the love was reciprocated. A raucous, sell-out crowd of 6,408 at NRG Arena watched Charlo overcome a fearless Brandon Adams to win a wide 12-round unanimous decision.

This was Charlo’s first fight at home since March 2012, when he scored a fifth-round TKO over Sean Wilson. Adams, who won the series five championship of The Contender series, was a far stiffer challenge. Yet Charlo still won comfortably in the main event of the PBC on SHOWTIME Championship Boxing card.

“[Adams] had a chin,” Charlo said afterward. “The contender was real, but this is a different level.”

Indeed. The combatants spent much of the first sizing each other up. A Charlo right uppercut snapped Adams’ head back toward the end of the round, but the challenger simply smiled after tasting Jermall’s power.

Charlo (29-0, 21 KOs) won the early frames via activity but appeared to be pressing, hoping to score a statement KO in front of fellow Houstonians. His eagerness worked against him in the fourth as Adams landed a series of lefts—both jabs and hooks—throughout the round.

“I hurt my left hand in like the second round but I kept throwing it,” Charlo revealed. “It was obvious my jab wasn’t flowing.”

Yet Charlo bounced back in the fifth, working that stick, which has knocked down several previous opponents.

Charlo began timing Adams’ onrushes in the middle frames. Adams briefly halted the momentum with a hard right to begin the ninth. But the champion took over, boxing well behind the jab and unloading combinations once he closed the distance.

A right hand in the 10th stunned Adams and brought the crowd out of their seats. The Los Angeles, California resident used his legs to survive. Still, Charlo dominated the championship rounds to win by scores of 119-109 and 120-108 twice.

“He came out to box. I came out to fight,” said Charlo. “It was a good fight. The city of Houston, I’ll be back. I worked for this. H-Town, I love you all.”

Adams, 21-3 (13 KOs), was gracious in defeat.

“I was coming up here to win.  I was coming to try to take him out in his hometown.  He did what he was supposed to do, he’s a champ for a reason and I take my hat off to him”.

Erickson Lubin Dominates and Drops Zakaria Attou in Four

Erickson “The Hammer” Lubin is fast closing in on another world title shot. In a dominant display, Lubin notched his third-straight stoppage win with a fourth-round TKO over France’s Zakaria Attou.

Lubin (21-1, 16 KOs) is now the top-ranked contender for the WBC world super welterweight title, currently held by Tony Harrison. If tonight’s performance is any indication, the Orlando, Florida native is a serious threat to topple any of the belt-holders at 154-pounds—and a much-improved fighter since his stunning first-round TKO loss to then-champion Jermell Charlo in October 2017.

“I don’t think it (the Jermell Charlo fight) was too soon; there was a bit of mishaps in camp,” Lubin said during his post-fight interview. “Respect to him. He has to fight Tony Harrison, J-Rock (Julian Williams) has to fight (Jarrett) Hurd. My next fight won’t be for a world title but I definitely want to get in there with a top-10 kind of guy. I just want to prove that I’m one of the top dudes.”

Still only 23, Lubin is now entering his prime. He established control in the first, coming forward behind his southpaw jab. A left cross stunned Attou midway through the second. Lubin followed up, driving him to a corner where he peppered him with combinations up and downstairs.

Lubin found another opening for his left in the fourth, staggering the Frenchman with a one-two. Attou (29-7-2, 7 KOs) covered up in the corner but couldn’t stop the onslaught, eating combinations until he stumbled to the canvas. When he rose on unsteady legs, the ringside doctor wisely threw in the towel, awarding Lubin the victory at 1:19 of the frame.

“(Trainer Kevin Cunningham) has helped me a lot,” said Lubin. “He’s helped me keep focus.  He took training to a new level with strength and conditioning.  He’s a southpaw specialist.”

As his charge.

Claudio Marrero Decisions Eduardo Ramirez in Thrilling Battle

In the grueling televised opener, Claudio Marrero of the Dominican Republic won a 12-round unanimous decision over a game Eduardo Ramirez in a WBA featherweight world title eliminator.

Marrero’s full arsenal was on display, although not entirely by choice. Ramirez made him work from everything and was dangerous from the opening as both southpaws fought to establish position. Following a solid first from the Mexican, Marrero went to work in the second, concentrating his attack on the ribcage.

Marrero (24-3, 17 KOs) continued to work the body in the middle rounds. Ramirez (22-2-3, 9 KOs) countered with hard shots upstairs. The back and forth produced fireworks in the seventh as the two took turns shooting combinations. Marrero’s shots carried more steam.

Both fighters were fatigued in the championship rounds but Marrero had more in the reserve, closing out strong to earn the victory. A battle versus WBA Super World Featherweight Champion Leo Santa Cruz might be next.

“I’m ready for anybody,” Marrero said afterward. “I always step to the plate and fight who’s in front of me. Bring them on. Leo Santa Cruz could definitely get this action next.”

Article courtesy of Kenneth Bouhairie & PBC