Jermall Charlo vs Matt Korobov Preview Dec. 22nd
Unbeaten interim WBC Middleweight Champion Jermall Charlo of Richmond, Texas will be meeting Matt Korobov of Russia at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York this Saturday, December 22nd. The 12-round bout can be seen live in North America on Fox and Fox Deportes. Charlo last fought in April when he stopped Hugo Centeno Jr in the second round for the vacant interim belt. Korobov’s last action was in March when he beat Jonathan Batista by a six-round unanimous decision. Charlo was supposed to meet Willie Monroe Jr, but he failed a pre-fight drug test while Korobov was scheduled to fight on the undercard, but has now filled in for Monroe.
Charlo vs Korobov Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- Matt Korobov +1400
- Jermall Charlo -2550
My Pick
Charlo is a former IBF Jr. Middleweight Champion who defended the belt three times after winning it by stopping Cornelius Bundrage in the third round in September, 2015. The 28-year-old ex-champion enters the contest with a perfect record of 27-0 along with 21 Kos. He stands 6-feet-tall and has a reach of 73.5 inches. Charlo’s on quite a roll as he’s stopped 19 of his last 21 opponents. He has 116 rounds of experience under his belt since turning pro in 2008 and this will be his third contest as a middleweight.
Charlo has very good power in his fists and his current knockout ratio now stands at 78 per cent. However, it could be argued that the only upper level boxers he’s met so far have been Julian Williams, Austin Trout and Bundrage, who was 42 when Charlo beat him for the title. Charlo hasn’t exactly been clashing with top-notch boxers, but has been overpowering just about everybody he’s faced lately and it would be a bit of a stretch to consider Korobov as an elite opponent.
Charlo has displayed fine speed and boxing skills, but his chin has yet to be really tested. He’s a strong, offensive-minded boxer who would rather his fights didn’t reach the scorecards. His only other notable win so far has been against Antwone Smith. And although he’s beaten a world champion in Bundrage and former world champion in Trout, Charlo hasn’t proven to the fans to be an elite boxer as of yet and it’s questionable if a win over Korobov will change that.
Korobov is a 35-year-old southpaw who fights out of Saint Petersburg, Florida. He enjoyed a fine amateur career by winning gold at the 2005 and 2007 World Amateur Championships and a 2001 European junior championship. He fought in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China and went 1-1 and holds an amateur win over Sergiy Derevyanchenko. Korobov turned pro later in 2008 and has 154 rounds under his belt since then.
He’ll enter the ring with an impressive record of 28-1 with 14 Kos. Korobov’s only pro loss came at the hands of Andy lee by way of sixth-round stoppage in December of 2014. He stands 5-feet-11-inches tall with a 70.5-inch reach so gives up an inch in height and three inches in reach to Charlo. He’s a tough, durable guy despite the knockout loss, but isn’t that powerful with a current knockout ratio of 48 per cent. Korobov’s biggest wins have been against Brian Vera, Jose Uzcategui, Derek Edwards, Grady Brewer, Ossie Duran, Derrick Findley and Milton Nunez.
Prediction…
Anything can happen when a boxer substitutes for someone in a world title fight, but Charlo was already training to meet a southpaw. Korobov’s 35 years old so this is likely his last kick at the can for a world title and he’s going to be focused on pulling off an upset. It’s not likely to happen though even if he gives it his best shot. I’m expecting Charlo to retain the interim belt and it’s time for him to step up his level of opposition.
Korobov will give it a good shot, but fall short.
Play: Charlo -2550 @ BetOnline.ag
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Jermall Charlo betting • Matt Korobov betting