Tony Harrison and Jermell Charlo; They Just Don’t Like Each Other

Tony Harrison and Jermell Charlo; They Just Don’t Like Each Other

LOS ANGELES-If somebody told me that, I don’t know what I’d do.

Well, somebody said it, and now Detroit’s WBC super welterweight titlist Tony Harrison (28-2, 21 KOs) and Houston’s former titlist Jermell Charlo (32-1, 16 KOs) are about to do something about it on Dec. 21 at Toyota Arena in Ontario, Calif.

It seemed to be a north-south thing but they’re bringing it to the Wild West where there are more boxing gyms than anywhere else in the world.

Charlo, he hates him.

Both met on Thursday in downtown Los Angeles, the city of the Angels, and both were downright sinful in their opinions of each other. Harrison defeated Charlo by unanimous decision last December in Brooklyn. A rematch was scheduled for this past June but an injury to Harrison forced a postponement.

Standing next to each other on a stage at the Conga Room in LA Live, you could tell they wanted to play bongos on each other’s head.

“You saw what I did to Cota,” yelled Charlo to his nemesis regarding his knockout win over Jorge Cota last June. “You saw what I’m going to do to you.”

You could see the veins in Charlo’s neck swelling.

Harrison sat calmly on his chair like a beatnik contemplating a poem.

“Every time I see Jermell I just feel like he’s pretending. He’s convinced everyone he’s the toughest guy in the world. He gets up here and barks and makes excuses,” said Harrison peering over his sunglasses. “I beat you the first time and I’m here again.”

Charlo seem angered that they had to return to the Conga Room once again. Back in May both were in the same spot saying almost the same things. The Houston prizefighter seemed frustrated that he had to look at the Detroit fighter again who he openly despises.

“I am who I am, I can’t change my persona,” said Charlo. “We’re in a hurt business. We’re Roughriders in this sport.”

Harrison scoffed at Charlo’s statement.

“His words definitely sparked the fuel in me, that’s on fire now,” said Harrison. “He talks loud, but he’s not going to do anything. He doesn’t have the skill set to beat me.”

Tom Brown of TGB Promotions, said the venue has been successful in the past for his former shows. Among those in the past held at the same venue were Chris Arreola vs Bermane Stiverne; Robert “The Ghost Guerrero vs Andre Berto; and Alfredo Angulo vs Joel Julio.

“The Southern California fight fans are going to get another great fight here at the end of the year in Ontario. The 154-pound division is one of the hottest in boxing but first it’s time to settle this rivalry. This is a fight that promises nothing but fireworks,” said Brown.

Brown said a number of Riverside prizefighters will be added to the card.

“It should be amazing,” said Brown.

Charlo and Harrison can’t stand to even look at each other. And what was it that was actually said to set them off?

It doesn’t even matter now.

“They just don’t like each other,” said TV emcee Ray Flores.

Photo credit: Al Applerose

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