UndercarDVR: Showtime Championship Boxing

Welcome to another installment of UndercarDVR, where we review what you need to see from this week in combat sports. We go fight by fight to see whether it needs to be watched, deleted, or put in fast forward.

Showtime brought us a junior middleweight triple-header featuring the Charlo twins aiming to make history as champion brothers in the same weight class and the return of the polarizing Erislandy Lara in the main event in a rivalry rematch vs. Vanes Maritirosyan.

Get your remotes ready!

Erislandy Lara defeated Vanes Martirosyan by unanimous decision to retain the WBA and IBO Junior Middleweight Championships.

• Well, this played out just about how you’d expect (minus a random point deduction on Martirosyan for a bogus low blow). While both men are clearly skilled and have a lot to offer against any in the weight class, their fights have a unique, elite level of shittiness. Please, on to bigger and better things for the both of them…or not. I really don’t care, just as long as they don’t have to be in the ring together. Lara makes it hard to be a fan of his.
• The less said about this, the better. Verdict: Delete.

Jermall Charlo defeated Austin Trout by unanimous decision to retain the IBF Junior Middleweight Championship.

• A great back and forth between a gatekeeper trying to reprove himself after losing to top flight talent and a fighter trying to establish himself as elite. These two traded some heavy shots and brought their best, but Charlo’s size and power because of it seemed to be the clincher and Trout’s face ended up showing it. Still, neither should really be too hurt by this and a step forward for both fighters.
• As stated, both guys traded and demonstrated the best of their games, though Trout was probably goaded into playing inside more than he should have been. Still, this was a sleeper fight before and it won’t be talked about much after, but it is worth your while even if it slips under the radar. Verdict: Watch.

Jermell Charlo defeated John Jackson by eighth-round TKO to win the WBC Super Welterweight Championship.

• An impressive performance from Jackson was all for naught after being caught by Charlo late in the fight. A check of the eye or the mouthpiece cost Jackson as Charlo pummeled him for the stoppage. This is a bout where both fighters demonstrated something new in their skills with Charlo demonstrating some pop in his punches and Jackson being able to actually box. It wasn’t exciting, but more of a surprisingly technical bout for what it was.
• The finish was bizarre and may be worth your while, but other than that, not a lot to miss. Jackson being able to box and not brawl was interesting, but Charlo seemed to be trying to fight against the flow here until he got the finish. Verdict: Delete.