V.I.’s John Jackson Knocked Out In Title Bout

ST. THOMAS — John Jackson, member of the legendary boxing family here, was leading his title fight all night Saturday in Las Vegas. He was incessantly but unsuccessfully pursued by his opponent, Jermell Charlo, who was unable to score a serious punch.

Mr. Jackson, evidently fighting strategically, fought on his toes as he ran around the ring. Heading into the 8 round, the St. Thomian led the bout with all three scorecards showing the same numbers: 69-64.

But without warning, Mr. Charlo landed an equalizer so decisive that it sent Mr. Jackson fumbling to fix his mouthpiece and staggering back; clearly hurt by the blow — an overhand right.

The punch was so immediate and severe that it caused Mr. Jackson to ignore a pivotal rule of boxing: defense. Mr. Jackson turned his back to Mr. Charlo, who thrust into Mr. Jackson with an unforgiving flush left hook followed by another, which forced referee Tony Weeks to stop the Showtime bout at 51 seconds of Round 8 from The Cosmopolitan.

Mr. Charlo, (28-0, 13 KOs) claimed the vacant WBC junior middleweight title fight with the victory, and joins his brother Jermall Charlo as the first twins in history to hold belts simultaneously in the same weight class.

“I was behind. He was boxing, he was moving around a lot,” Mr. Charlo, 26, said. “That was unexpected of him. I thought he was going to come out to brawl. I had to make an adjustment and I did. When he started slowing down I was able to catch him with a shot. I knew that if he could have continued he could have come back so I had to hit him.”

Referee Weeks said Mr. Jackson — who dedicated the fight to his father, the great Julian Jackson, a former two-division champion who was disrespected by Mr. Charlo at a Thursday press conference —  was out on his feet at the time of the stoppage.

“My mouthpiece was just about to come out and I went to push it back in and I turned and he drilled me,” Mr. Jackson (20-3, 15 KOs) said. “I wasn’t knocked out, but the referee stopped it when I turned my back.” Mr. Jackson also lost to Andy Lee (another time he was knocked out while up on the cards) and Willie Nelson.

Mr. Chalo will now face Charles Hatley. “It’s history. We did it,” Mr. Charlo said. “A lot of fighters don’t come out of Houston and we did it. I’m waiting for my brother next. We’ve been boxing for all of these years and it had to happen.”

Via USA Today.

Feature Image: Jermell Charlo scores a magnificent knockout of John Jackson to win vacant WBC title (Credit: USA Today).