Jermall Charlo Is Taken To The Limit By Juan Montiel!
Undefeated WBC middleweight champion Jermall “Hit Man” Charlo (31-0, 22ko) made the fourth defense of his title against #4 ranked “Juanito” Juan Montiel (22-4-2, 22ko), at the Toyota Center in front of the hometown Houston crowd on the historical day of Juneteenth!
Despite being ranked, Montiel is relatively unknown to the boxing public. He has fought the majority of his career in Mexico against subpar competition. In 2017, he was stopped by former WBO junior middleweight champion Jaime Munguia. However, the win that catapulted him up the rankings came in December 2020 when he scored a first-round stoppage over a passed prime James Kirkland.
Charlo will have all eyes on him fighting in front of the Houston crowd celebrating the newly signed federal holiday. Expectations will be high as the general public believes this fight should not go the distance. Typically in boxing, it is said you can not overlook any opponent. However, fans will be looking for Charlo to win impressively. The WBC champion has been involved in a war of words with former WBC super-middleweight champion David Benavidez. Although, Charlo maintains that none of the big names in the sport will fight him. Therefore, demolishing Montiel would help prove his claim!
THE CHALLENGER CAME TO FIGHT
Charlo started the fight trying to establish that hard jab. Things would settle quickly as the Hit Man let his hands go landing the jab and double right hook to the body and head of the awkward Mexican fighter. However, Montiel was not intimidated at all by the moment. Fighting as a southpaw, he had success landing the uppercut, hooks to the body and occasionally snapped back the WBC champion’s head back with the jab.
Charlo turned up the heat in the fifth round, taking advantage of his opponent’s low punch output. He unloaded a hard right hook on the temple that had the Mexican challenger wobbling into the corner. Montiel found himself in trouble twice in the sixth round by a counter right hand and again by a left hook flush on the chin.
IT WON’T BE THAT EASY!
Montiel survived those two rounds by landing hard body shots and uppercuts that bothered the champion for a second. Charlo suffered a cut over the right eye and had to grind it out. He took a barrage of body punches and uppercuts before returning fire with hard jabs and the straight right to the body.
This fight was not supposed to make it to the championship rounds. But surprisingly in those rounds, the body punching by Montiel had the WBC champion’s body language looking a little different. The more confident demeanor of champion seemed to fade as he was in a fight now!
Charlo had to dig deep! Fighting out of the southpaw stance was the ultimate downfall of the Mexican fighter as the most success came from fighting orthodox. Charlo adjusted his game plan by using his legs and moving around the ring. At the same time, he pumped the jab to regain control of the fight. He also had success landing the right hand to the body and the overhand right on the chin.
When the final bell sounded, the fans cheered for both fighters and the heart showed by the Mexican challenger. The judges scored it in favor of the WBC champion 118-109, 119-109, and 120-108.
During the post-fight interview, Charlo was gracious by giving Montiel praise for showing tremendous heart. This ultimately earned him the respect of the fans and the champion.
By: Garrisson Bland
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