Gallimore: Rosario Has Explosive Power In Both Hands; Short Night If Charlo Is Aggressive

Nathaniel Gallimore is as familiar as any fighter with Jeison Rosario’s power. (photo by Ryan Hafey)

Gallimore took Rosario’s hardest punches well when they fought in April 2017 and stopped the hard-hitting Dominican in the sixth round in Las Vegas. Three years later, Gallimore remains the only opponent to beat Rosario, who since has upset Julian Williams by fifth-round technical knockout to win the IBF, IBO and WBA 154-pound championships.

Rosario overpowered Williams when they met January 18 in Philadelphia, Williams’ hometown. The rugged Rosario will do the same thing to Jermell Charlo, Gallimore predicted, if Charlo goes after Rosario early in their title unification fight September 26.

Houston’s Charlo (33-1, 17 KOs) and Santo Domingo’s Rosario (20-1-1, 14 KOs) will fight for Rosario’s three titles and Charlo’s WBC belt in the main event of a Showtime Pay-Per-View telecast tentatively scheduled to take place at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.

“I think if Charlo imposes himself as he did with Tony Harrison, it’s gonna be an early night,” Gallimore said during a conference call Thursday, alluding to a rematch Charlo won by 11th-round knockout. “[Rosario] is not the one you can fight like that, and fight aggressive. It’s gonna be a short night, because [Rosario] has got explosive power in both hands. … That fight is not going the distance. Somebody is gonna get knocked out in that fight.”

The 32-year-old Gallimore (21-4-1, 17 KOs) will battle Sebastian Fundora (14-0-1, 9 KOs) in a 10-round junior middleweight match Saturday night in Los Angeles. The Jamaican-born Gallimore, of Evanston, Illinois, has lost decisions to Williams, WBO champ Patrick Teixeira and Erickson Lubin in three of his past four fights.

FOX will televise the Gallimore-Fundora fight from Microsoft Theater before a main event in which former IBF/WBC welterweight champ Shawn Porter (30-3-1, 17 KOs) will meet Germany’s Sebastian Formella (22-0, 10 KOs). Their 12-round IBF/WBC elimination match will headline a three-bout broadcast set to begin at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

If Gallimore wins and Rosario beats Charlo, Gallimore hopes Rosario eventually will try to avenge his lone loss.

“Jeison Rosario, he’s a good fighter,” said Gallimore, who dropped Rosario three times before their fight was stopped. “You know, he’s a great person as well. You know, I would like to share the ring with him again because he got the world title right now and that’s what I’m seeking. That would be an awesome fight to make.” 

Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.