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I'll echo what most others have said here: a close fight, a draw would have reasonable if there were not a 117-111 card and a 10-8 in a round that saw Castaņo hurt but not out on his feet. The sad thing is I said to my girlfriend in the 9th round "one card will be 117-111 for Charlo and it's already written out." It's an absolute shame.
As for the fight, I was struck how much bigger Charlo was than Castaņo and what truly jumped out at me was his inability to control the ring despite that. There were moments where he worked his jab or a 1-2, sure, but overall I thought he did a poor job of fighting his fight. He also moves straight back, despite Castaņo coming straight forward.
Charlo also did not throw accurate punches tonight. In both sequences when he had Castaņo hurt he followed with flurries where nothing landed. In the first instance he landed one hard counter left and missed everything subsequently, in the second he landed a combination and then the same. There were other instances of course, but those two jumped out. Castaņo's defense was better-than-expected, BUT he was also right there to be hit. Charlo might need a little more double-end bag time or something.
Finally, Charlo looked like a guy who simply could not make adjustments. I recognize he dug deep and won the championship rounds and I commend him for doing so, but it was still the same fight, if that makes sense.
Castaņo fought better than I expected but he let opportunities go early. Charlo would consistently bend his back when under pressure on the ropes. Castaņo, the shorter man, would miss over the top with hooks rather than bend those knees and go for shoulders or ribs. He paid the price in the championship rounds when Charlo still had gas in the tank. I thought early on he would've benefitted from more body work in general, as he had trouble catching Charlo's head when against the ropes. Also, the overhand right was there for him all night when he threw in combinations, but he'd only ever throw it as the first or second punch in a sequence.
I thought Castaņo won a close, competitive fight but left enough room for Charlo to wiggle out. A draw is fair, the two scores mentioned above are not. Immediate rematch should be the only next step.
As for the fight, I was struck how much bigger Charlo was than Castaņo and what truly jumped out at me was his inability to control the ring despite that. There were moments where he worked his jab or a 1-2, sure, but overall I thought he did a poor job of fighting his fight. He also moves straight back, despite Castaņo coming straight forward.
Charlo also did not throw accurate punches tonight. In both sequences when he had Castaņo hurt he followed with flurries where nothing landed. In the first instance he landed one hard counter left and missed everything subsequently, in the second he landed a combination and then the same. There were other instances of course, but those two jumped out. Castaņo's defense was better-than-expected, BUT he was also right there to be hit. Charlo might need a little more double-end bag time or something.
Finally, Charlo looked like a guy who simply could not make adjustments. I recognize he dug deep and won the championship rounds and I commend him for doing so, but it was still the same fight, if that makes sense.
Castaņo fought better than I expected but he let opportunities go early. Charlo would consistently bend his back when under pressure on the ropes. Castaņo, the shorter man, would miss over the top with hooks rather than bend those knees and go for shoulders or ribs. He paid the price in the championship rounds when Charlo still had gas in the tank. I thought early on he would've benefitted from more body work in general, as he had trouble catching Charlo's head when against the ropes. Also, the overhand right was there for him all night when he threw in combinations, but he'd only ever throw it as the first or second punch in a sequence.
I thought Castaņo won a close, competitive fight but left enough room for Charlo to wiggle out. A draw is fair, the two scores mentioned above are not. Immediate rematch should be the only next step.
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