Boxing world rages over ‘disgrace’ in Charlo-Castano blockbuster

Drama was the name of the game in the Jermell Charlo-Brian Castano superfight, endng in farcical scenes that may sideline Tim Tszyu’s title hopes.

The super welterweight division will be unified for the first time.

Jermell Charlo and Brian Castano’s superfight has finished with a bad taste in everyone’s mouth with the epic battle going down to a split decision draw.

It was everything it was billed to be with history on the line as the winner would have claimed the undisputed super welterweight championship with all four belts — five if you count The Ring Magazine title — on the line.

Watch Jermell Charlo vs. Brian Castano Live & On-Demand on Kayo from 11am Sunday. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >

For Aussie Tim Tszyu, the fight was believed to provide a path to a world title.

Tszyu is the No. 1 challenger for Castano’s WBO belt, while Charlo said that Tszyu would never fight him.

The dramatic draw leaves any chance of Tszyu lining up for a title shot in the near future in doubt despite a $10 million offer from the Aussie’s camp to host the fight in Australia.

After the fight, Tszyu tweeted congratulations to Castano, and called for a fight.

Congrats Brian Castano.
I'm ready when you are...

— Tim Tszyu (@Tim_Tszyu) July 18, 2021

Tszyu was bullish on his chances of a straight title shot after beating Stevie Spark, calling out former champ Liam Smith.

The Charlo-Castano undisputed battle was an epic encounter with Argentine Castano suffering an early wobble in the third round but not hitting the canvas, as he peppered Charlo and looked the much better of the fighters.

.@BrianBoxii lands his left hook as RD3 comes to an end, buckling the knees of Charlo. #CharloCastano#PBConShowtimepic.twitter.com/q1sSHHBaE6

— Premier Boxing Champions (@premierboxing) July 18, 2021

But Charlo doesn’t have three world titles for nothing and battled back from round 10, as he appeared like he needed to go for the knockout.

News.com.au scored the fight 115-113 for Castano but it really could have gone either way as the superstars were near impossible to split.

Charlo almost snatched it late.

Castano rocked Charlo throughout the fight.

Well, for most of the world.

It appears only judge Nelson Vasquez saw differently, giving the fight to Charlo 117-111.

This is despite the other judges having it 114-113 to Castano and 114-all to hand the fighters a draw.

Scoring has been a major issue for the sport over recent years and fans were fuming with boos raining down in the arena.

The commentators immediately called for a rematch as they left with the belts they came with.

“I do have a problem with 117-111 from Nelson Vasquez,” one of the commentators said. “What in the heck was he looking at? 117-111.”

Another commentator called the 117-111 card “egregious”.

Social media also exploded over the call.

117-111 Charlo is a disgrace. #CharloCastano#boxing

— Dan Rafael (@DanRafael1) July 18, 2021

117-111 Charlo was filled out before the fight. Just awful. Other two scores were within reason. Draw was kind to Charlo, imho, but coulda been worse. High quality fight. #CharloCastaño#boxing

— Lou DiBella (@loudibella) July 18, 2021

Joke! A split decision draw. One judge, Nelson Vasquez, had Charlo winning 117-111, that is a farce, an embarrassment. This sport needs a close look at officiating #CharloCastano

— Jamie Pandaram (@JamiePandaram) July 18, 2021

Come on @AlBernstein , 117-111? There’s not one person who has ever watched a fight and can still fog a mirror who can justify a bs card like that. No way #CharloCastaño

— Jeff Cox (@JeffCoxCNBCcom) July 18, 2021

Boxing is insanely rigged. I hate this sport. There's no way Castano didn't win that fight. LOL @ 117-111 for Charlo #CharloVSCastano#CharloCastano

— raheem palmer (@djrtodaizza) July 18, 2021

Can’t fault a split draw but 117-111 for Charlo is awful #boxing#CharloCastaño

— Jeremy Herriges (@ABoxingWriter) July 18, 2021

Split draw is not a bad outcome, but 117-111 Charlo is a terrible card… even accounting for the PBC house guy getting the close rounds, it’s way too wide. Let’s do it again #CharloCastano

— Corbin Middlemas (@CorbinMiddlemas) July 18, 2021

Neither fighter was thrilled with the result either.

“The draw wasn’t what I wanted to hear,” Charlo said.”I thought I won this fight, I hurt him way more than he did. Brian Castano is a tough warrior he going to give a lot of people problems but my power is something serious at this weight division.”

Castano equally thought he’d done enough to win.

“I won the fight definitely,” Castano said through a translator. He then added in English: “I hope there’s a rematch. He’s a great fighter. I want the rematch.”

Charlo got in plenty of good licks.

Before entering the ring, the fight was almost called off over a glove controversy.

However, the issues were worked out with Castano’s representative Sebastian Contursi told ESPN Charlo’s gloves did not meet regulations and demanded the fight be stopped as a result.

The highly anticipated showdown will see the super welterweight division unified for the first time with all four major world championship belts on the line.

“Charlo’s right glove has a balloon (sic) and that glove cannot be approved, the commissioner gave us the reason at three in the afternoon,” Contursi originally said.

“Charlo’s representative called Jermell’s coach, Derrick (James), they said that they could go in two hours and the Texas commissioner said yes, at five they came with a bodyguard, they threw out our translator and allowed Charlo to have a bodyguard and I never saw a thing like it in my life.

“So far there is no fight, it is not for money, with that glove we do not fight, our gloves are fine.”

The fight marked the first time all four major 154-pound crowns — Charlo’s WBA, WBC and IBF titles and Castano’s WBO belt — were up for grabs at the same time.

Castano hurt Charlo in the early stages.

Full card and results on Charlo-Castano fight

Jermell Charlo drew with Brian Castaño (super welterweight), split decision (114-113 Castano, 117-111 Charlo, 114-all draw) for unified WBA, WBA, WBC, IBF world championship

Rolando Romero defeated Anthony Yigit (lightweight) via 7th round TKO

Amilcar Vidal defeated Immanuwel Aleem (middleweight) via majority decision (95-all, 97-93x2)

Bakhram Murtazaliev defeated Khiary Gray (super welterweight) via unanimous decision (79-73, 78-74, 79-73)

Pablo Rubio Jr defeated Eric Manriquez (featherweight) via unanimous decision

Amed Medina defeated Reginald Hinson (featherweight) via 4th round KO

Roberto Zavala Jr defeated Levi James West (heavyweight) via 4th round KO

Xavier Nunez defeated David Alfaro (featherweight) via 4th round TKO

Originally published as Boxing world rages over ‘disgrace’ in Charlo-Castano blockbuster