Saturday night, with 12,505 raucous fans looking on, Jermell Charlo handily defeated Austin Trout by majority decision.
The overwhelming favorite leading up to the fight, Charlo relied on youth and power to overwhelm over the course of 12 rounds while Trout refused to fold despite being knocked down in rounds 3 and 9.
“I did what I had to do tonight. I went to search for that trout but I couldn’t get him to stay down.“I could have gotten him out of there at any point. I wanted to get the knockout but I have to be a little more active with my punches. Trout is a guy who just keeps getting up. There was a lot going on in the fight but I’m glad I kept my composure and got the win.“I have to give a big shoutout to my people who’ve been with me. The ‘Lions Only’ den is going to keep going and we’re going to keep rocking.”
During the post-fight press conference Richard Schaefer, CEO of Ringstar Sports and the promoter of the event, said the loud, angry boos reminded him of a Floyd Mayweather fight night.
“I don’t know why they reacted that way. It reminded me of Floyd Mayweather, the reaction was the same way. We have many great champions but we have very few fighters who are able to evoke those kinds of emotions in people. Man the whole Staples Center was booing him.”
“But you are going to see that with the Charlos. They are bigger than life personalities and in boxing, we need that.”
Jermell Charlo made it clear in the weeks leading up to the fight that his shift to Los Angeles is a permanent one while Richard Schaefer echoed his sentiment and made it clear he’d love to make his next fight at Staples Center against IBF/WBA/IBO super welterweight champion Jarrett Hurd.
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