Mutual Respect From Charlo & Harrison
One of the main selling points for the recent electrified slobber-knocker between Tony “Super Bad” Harrison (28-3, 21 KO’s) and Jermell “Iron Man” Charlo (33-1, 17 KO’s) was their fiery feud. It was plainly evident that the two men craved to slap skin from the others cheek-bone. At each media event, the compelling fighters bickered, barked and prayed for their foes downfall.
Harrison was laid-back, coy and snidely smiling whenever delivering his insults from behind his designer shades. Charlo was perpetually red-eyed and intense when vowing to score a knockout. Their disdain for one another hung thick as cigar smoke in the air. It was great!
NO LOVE LOST
When the jaw-jacking ceased and the knuckle-chucking commenced, the action matched the words with perfection! Looking to go for the death stroke right away, Charlo attacked Harrison as if he had spit in his dear old grandmas face. His ferocity was undeniable. It was clear he wasn’t thinking about anything but claiming a stoppage.
Unfortunately for Iron Man, his aggression made his shots easy to see and, therefore, easy evade. Super Bad was able to fortify himself behind a Ronald “Winky” Wright inspired high guard and walk Charlo back. Harrison found great success with a nasty left to the body and catching Charlo between shots when moving forward.
After a few rounds, Iron Man settled down and took a bit of the rage out of his approach. When that happened, a high stakes war of attrition began. In the end, Charlo was able to clip Harrison and claim the stoppage that he sought so badly. By doing so, he reclaimed the WBC world junior middleweight title.
MAN TO MAN RESPECT
When all the dust had settled, it appears as if the two had exorcised their bitter rancor for each other. While both were present at the post-fight interview, Harrison and Charlo, on numerous occasions, lathered the other with praise.
Having dealt out, and receiving, so much quality punishment, there was no way that they could deny one another’s pedigree. Now that the battle had been fought, they were free to be civil.
“Tony put up a hell of fight you know? He had a game plan, he listened to his people and I had a game plan and listened to my people. Despite all the shit talk, he a funny dude! You know what I mean, I started enjoying the shit and listening to him. ‘This mothafucka crazy, this mothafucka really got something going on!’
…Got to respect a man that gets in the ring, its not easy.” ~Jermell Charlo, WBC junior middleweight champion
The former WBC world junior middleweight champion felt likewise:
“I made sure the mothafucka earned it, like I can’t give this bitch back like this, not this easy. So I just had to push man, but damn, it hurt me, I needed this one bad as fuck. I wanted this bitch for my whole life. You know I worked, damn! He killed it, he killed it, but he earned it man, ain’t nothing I can say…Man to man he earned that shit today, it ain’t nothing else to say!” ~Tony Harrison, former junior middleweight champion
Honestly, this is one of the best parts of the sport, when two top flight fighters can hate his opponent’s guts up to and throughout the fight, then give honest props in the aftermath. Much respect to Charlo and Harrison. Wouldn’t mind watching it for a third time!
By: Bakari Simpson
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