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Sports Minute: Charlo brothers hoping to show off in pay-per-view fights

Sports Minute: Charlo brothers hoping to show off in pay-per-view fights
4 years 1 week 1 day ago Thursday, September 24 2020 Sep 24, 2020 September 24, 2020 4:15 PM September 24, 2020 in Sports - AP - Texas

By TIM DAHLBERGAP Boxing Writer

The Charlo brothers are determined to put on a show on boxing’s biggest card since the arrival of the pandemic.

All they can hope is people will pay to tune in and watch it.

A pair of titles will be at stake when the best twins in boxing return to the ring Saturday night at a Connecticut casino in a Showtime pay-per-view event. Jermell takes on Jeison Rosario in a 154-pound title unification, while Jermall goes up against Sergiy Derevyanchenko in a 160-pound title defense.

The fights will head separate three-bout cards with a 30-minute break in between designed to showcase the 30-year-old twins, who have only one loss between them.

``There’s nothing bigger for us,’’ Jermell Charlo said. ``This is our Super Bowl. This is our national championship. It’s time for us to go get our belts.’’

For Jermell Charlo (33-1, 17 knockouts) it’s both a chance to continue the comeback after suffering his only loss two years ago and to unify three major belts at 154 pounds. For his brother, it’s a fight against a proven challenger and an opportunity to display his dominance at middleweight.

Both cards will be offered on pay-per-view for $74.99, a strategy to maximize revenue without live fans but one that will limit the audience for the bouts.

“After I win this fight the sky is the limit,’’ Jermall said. ``I know people will respect me a lot more after this, but I’m focused on only this fight. This fight is another big stepping stone toward even bigger fights to come.’’

Those fights should have already happened for the brothers, who began boxing professionally a dozen years ago. Both have been brought along carefully, only to watch as others in their weight classes chase the bigger fights and biggest names.

Oddsmakers figure Jermall (30-0, 22 knockouts) will have the toughest test as he attempts to retain his piece of the middleweight title against a fighter whose last outing was a close loss to Gennadiy Golovkin. Derevyanchenko is 13-2, with his losses both close decisions against Golovkin and Daniel Jacobs.

“Derevyanchenko is a come forward fighter. He’s going to bring a lot of power and speed with good technical skills,’’ Jermall Charlo said. ``He calls himself ‘The Technician’ but we’ll see how technical he is once I start putting my jab in his face. I’m going to use all my natural skills in this fight.’’

Derevyanchenko said his experience fighting middleweight champions will prove the difference in the bout.

“Golovkin and Daniel Jacobs were tough fights, they were both close fights and I think those experiences definitely helped me,’’ he said. “I’ll show it in the ring on Saturday.”

The brothers from Houston last fought in December, with Jermell stopping Tony Harrison in the 11th round to avenge his only loss and regain his piece of the 154-pound title. In his return to action he faces Rosario (20-1-1, 14 knockouts), a Dominican who upset Julian Williams to win several bouts in January.

“People will say that they can’t wait to see us fight again after Saturday,’’ Jermell said. ``We come to fight. We prepared all our life for this. Now is our time.’’

Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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