Jermall Charlo retains IBF title with fourth-round TKO of overmatched Wilky Campfort
Jermall Charlo easily retained his IBF junior middleweight title Saturday against unworthy challenger Wilky Campfort.
Following the third knockdown of the fight, Campfort pawed at his right eye and told referee Mark Calo-Oy he couldn't see due to a blurred vision. A terrific left uppercut seemed to do the damage, which ended the mismatch at 1:16 of Round 4. The PBC on NBC main event highlighted a tripleheader of Al Haymon talents matched softly in showcase bouts from The Bomb Factory in Dallas.
"I've got the best jab in the business," Charlo, 25, said. "I'm going to keep using it, because it's feeding my family. I'm going to stay right here at 154 (pounds). This is my title and I'm going to defend it. I'm ready for anyone."
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Charlo (23-0, 18 KOs) used that left jab to score a knockdown in Round 2, and also scored another knockdown in the third. The twin brother of junior middleweight contender Jermell, Charlo told Paste BN Sports before the fight that he planned to soon move to 160, but it sounds like he may have changed his mind.
Julian Williams has called for a fight with Charlo, and will fight Jan. 16 for mandatory status to the IBF title. There's also top operators like Austin Trout and Erislandy Lara competing in the weight class under the PBC banner.
"I had a problem getting past his jab," Campfort (21-2, 12 KOs) said. "Once I got in, he was so much bigger than me and my punches couldn't really affect him. He controlled the fight with his jab. I tried to make the fight happen, but it was hard to get inside of him. He's a big guy and a really good fighter. But I felt like I was in there with a light heavyweight."
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Errol Spence, one of the fastest-rising stars in boxing, was his utterly dominant self Saturday.
The Mayweather protege from nearby Desoto scored a fifth-round stoppage of Alejandro Barrera and now wants to move on to bigger and better things.
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"I want top 10 welterweights," Spence said. "My goal is to become a world champion. If I have to go to England to fight Kell Brook, I'm willing to do that."
Spence (19-0, 16 KOs) scored a body shot knockdown in the Round 5, then overwhelmed Barrera (28-3, 18 KOs) and dropped him again, with referee Laurence Cole stopping it at 1:46.
"There were definitely some nerves fighting in front of my hometown fans," Spence said. "It took me the first couple of rounds to get over that. Then I just started doing what I usually do and it worked out."
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Erickson Lubin, another top prospect, made easy work of journeyman Alexis Camacho.
The 20-year-old displayed his natural ability and was able to land at will with clean, fluid movement and punches. He scored a highlight-reel KO of Camacho following a picture-perfect overhand right that send the Mexican native crashing to the canvas, his limbs twitching.
Said Lubin: "My lead hand is my quickest and I saw him running in, so I used that check hook to put him out."