Boxing: Tony Harrison vs. Jermell Charlo II preview and pick

The heated rivalry between Jermell Charlo and Tony Harrison enters its second chapter Saturday, as the two elite junior middleweights will face off in a rematch of Harrison’s controversial win earlier this year. Harrison will have to repeat his title-winning effort over a motivated and incensed Charlo, and BetAmerica has all the action covered for this critical showdown.

Tony Harrison vs. Jermell Charlo odds

Charlo showed Harrison no respect the first time around

In their first clash Charlo went through the motions, fought a lazy fight and showed Harrison no respect. Those lapses in activity allowed Harrison’s work rate to win over the judges and earned him a head-scratching decision, considering Charlo—as lackadaisical as he was—looked like he won convincingly.

Charlo has developed a bad habit of overestimating his power and often fails to follow up on any big shots when they do land, which allowed Harrison to stay in the fight. To avoid these pitfalls again, Charlo needs to lead with his jab and be the last one landing a shot when the two come to blows. Once Harrison starts to ease off or tries to create distance, that’s when Charlo can back him into the ropes and try to land something big.

A matador-versus-bull scenario

Harrison’s chin has failed him in deep waters before, but that was as a result of sustained pressure against bigger fighters. While Harrison didn’t hurt Charlo at any point in the first fight, he’ll have to if Charlo shuts down his offense or begins to successfully counter over his jab. This is a typical matador-versus-bull scenario, but Harrison can try to see how prepared Charlo is for the same smothering approach from their first fight and adjust accordingly.

Charlo will have Harrison on his heels early

Charlo is the better all-around fighter and isn’t going to come in flat this time around. He is going to pressure Harrison from the start, will test his opponent's resolve early and see how recovered Harrison is from a lingering ankle injury that previously caused this fight to be delayed. If Harrison’s mobility is hindered and he is forced to stand and fight, he’ll be laid out in short order.

The judges awarded Harrison the first fight, but they aren’t going to get a chance to turn in cards this time around. A relentless Charlo will be ready to fight and get to Harrison early. That will cause Harrison to fight going backward, and he won't have a chance to establish his offense. Charlo’s class will shine, but it’s his aggressiveness that will get the job done. He'll flatten Harrison and regain his title in a one-sided stoppage in eight rounds.

Boxing free pick: Charlo (-225)

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