Video: Charlo TKOs Harrison in dramatic rematch

Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images

Jermell Charlo didn’t leave it in the hands of the judges in his rematch with Tony Harrison.

PBC on FOX closed out its 2019 with what has to be considered one of the crazier events of the year. The main event in Ontario, California saw Jermell Charlo (33-1, 17 KOs) avenge the sole loss of his career, stopping Tony Harrison (28-3, 21 KOs) in the 11th round to win back the WBC super-welterweight title.

Harrison edged out Charlo by decision in a shocking upset to end last year, and for the most part he looked to be outboxing Jermell in the rematch. However, Charlo floored Harrison in round two for a pivotal two-point round in his favor. Charlo was getting outworked and outfought on the inside through the first several rounds, but started to find more success in the later rounds, while Harrison’s effectiveness started to wane.

In the 11th, Charlo cracked Harrison with a left hook that had him wobbled and he eventually went down. Charlo went on the attack and unleashed a vicious series of blows to the head that probably should’ve ended the fight on that particular knockdown. Referee Jack Reiss issued a count, but Charlo was on the ring apron and celebrating as if he’d already won. The job wasn’t done yet, and Charlo would get the finish with a few more punches, although the timing of Reiss’ stoppage was a bit peculiar as those didn’t look to be fight-ending shots. Nevertheless, Harrison was in massive trouble and Charlo has his belt back.

This was an action-packed battle, and you can watch the highlights below.

Official result: Jermell Charlo def. Tony Harrison by TKO, 2:28 of Round 11

Two judges had Charlo up 96-93, with Harrison getting a 95-94 in his favor at the time of the stoppage. Evidently, Harrison needed a knockout to win anyway, but it was Charlo who came out on top without letting it to go the scorecards.

Other main card action included heavyweight prospect Efe Ajagba (12-0, 10 KOs) stopping Iago Kiladze (26-5, 18 KOs) in the fifth round after Kiladze’s corner threw in the towel, but this was crazy brawling. Ajagba dropped Kiladze in the second round, wobbled him in the third round and then turned away as if he assumed Kiladze would go down. He assumed wrong and got knocked down viciously just seconds later! Ajagba sorted things out from there and floored Kiladze in the fifth, then the corner saved Iago from more punishment.

Lastly, 2016 US Olympian Karlos Balderas (9-1, 8 KOs) suffered a shocking sixth-round KO loss to Rene Tallez Giron (14-1, 8 KOs). It should’ve been over in round three when Balderas was walloped with a left hook, but the referee Ray Corona inexplicably let a badly hurt and barely responsive Balderas to see out the round. Not to fear for Giron, as another left hook put Balderas down again, and he was counted out just as he rose at the count of ten.