In a grudge match, undefeated WBC middleweight champion Jermall Charlo (32-0, 22 KOs) scored a ten round unanimous decision over José Benavídez Jr. (28-3-1, 19 KOs) in a non-title WBC special event on Saturday night’s Benavidez-Andrade card at the Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. Returning after nearly 2 1/2 years, Charlo was stronger than the aggressive Benavidez and won most of the rounds. Benavidez was wobbled in the tenth. Scores were 98-92, 99-91, 100-90.
Give props. He fought well. He knows how to fight.
Charlo did a good job moving, countering, and even leading in many rounds of the fight. Yes, he did well. However, I question if he can even stop Canelo who is much stronger than Benavidez Jr. Charlo will need to beat Canelo on points should they fight. I dont see a KO for Charlo against Canelo.
lol Canelo has never been knocked down let alone knocked out. Charbum absolutely has no chance of even hurting him. Charbum will be the one getting laid out if they fight.
Please nobody wants to see Charlo vs Canelo. The only fight for Canelo is Benavidez.
Benavidez vs Bivol is what we really want to see
Charlo very dominant, Jose put a valiant effort, but lacks fundamental
He should be ashamed he could not ko Benavides
Boxing should not let this fights go on
In the weigh in looks like over weight boxer is not a problem
But this like putting one live on risk
Charlo was too strong for Benavides
Can’t say I’d be too proud beating a guy two weight classes below me. And he couldn’t stop him? The commentators kept saying solid performance by Charlo and i get it .. he was out 40 months. But still, this was a super middle weight fighting a blown up welterweight. I guess that’s what Benavidez gets for all the pre fight talk. I pick Plant and Morrell over Charlo.
Not to bad after almost three years without fighting but nowhere close to challenge any one of the big names at Super Middle. Plant, Mibilli, Morrel and Benavidez would smoke him.
This fight did not settle in my gut correctly because Charlo missed weight. Under such weight related circumstances, Benavidez hung in there with a solid chin. Charlo’s punches were creative, and his jabs were mean.
Agree E man …Charlo had some good moments….but clearly that finisher that beast we are use to seeing .,.not there… hopefully it is rust…but …Charlo struggling with something else…can clearly see it…I hope that Charlo is “ok” outside the ring…
Yep, how good would charlo have been if he had of sweated off the extra 3-4 pounds and actually made weight ? Possibly a more even playing field for the smaller Benevidez Jr……
Hopefully charlo fights plant next
Not bad for charlo.good fight to get the rust out! Benavidez was talk,talk bullishht and no pop in his punches! Great sportsmanship on charlo at the post fight interview. Bobo gettn’ KO by benavidez next fight! Its a total mismatch, bobo too weak for the hard punching destroyer in benavidez! Bobo’s promoters don’t realize the danger they put him for picking this fight. Benavidez by brutal KO of the year on the 8th or a “no-mas” call out!
Dominated a welter weight (blown up). He got rounds in and maintained composure surprisingly.
I’m at the fight and there are no ring girls! WTF!!!
Benavidez about to stop Boo-boo. One more round
Done.
It was expected! A bobo blow out! Benavidez is in onother level, and not the bums bobo is used to fight and strugled with when he was champion! The most “avoided” title just was too big for bobo!
I don’t think it was right that Charlo be allowed to come in so heavy in violation of the contractual catch weight limit of 163. He likely was close to 170 when he stepped into the ring, more than 7-8 lbs heavier than Benavidez. He enjoyed a height advantage too. Totally unfair. Credit to Jose for putting up a valiant effort. Charlo couldn’t knock him out either. I personally am not very impressed with Charlo. He wants the big money that fighting Canelo or David Benavidez would bring, but it’s obvious that he would be no match for either. His more immediate goal should be to fight Plant, so he can save face and exact revenge for Plant slapping him. This is the reason that Plant slapped him too, to force him to choose Plant as an opponent with the title on the line.
Jose Benavides was out boxed. He did show he has a decent chin. Charlo didn’t have enough punching power to stop Benavides. Charlo will not beat Alvarez.
Just wanted to note….Charlo …I am praying for you….you are a man before a fighter…In your corner in “life”….hang in there champ…
Charlo is done at top level. I think Plant beats him at 168 and benavidez would knock him out as quick as he did Andrade. If he has to fight Adames at the middleweight limit, then he loses that too.
Way to go Charlo!
ok, lets just hope that we dont now have
canelo-charlo. if so, another hard pass for me
Surprised he couldn’t KO him. Jose Jr, a career Welterweight comes in at a catch weight of 163. Meanwhile Charlo, a natural Middleweight comes in 3.4# over at 166.4. So you had an overweight out of shape Welterweight fighting a Super Middleweight.

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Boxing legend Floyd Mayweather is back in the ring tonight for another exhibition fight as he prepares to face John Gotti III in Florida.
Mayweather has not had a professional fight since he ended his career on 50-0 following his huge event with Conor McGregor in 2017.
His most recent exhibition show was up against Aaron Chalmers in February 2023, in London.
Gotti last fought Albert Tulley at Rockin Fights 43 at the beginning of October last year, securing a decision victory in MMA, where he has a 5-1-0 record.
Here's all you need to know ahead of Mayweather vs. Gotti.
The event is set to get underway at 2 a.m. BST / 9 p.m. ET with the main event ringwalks scheduled for 4 a.m. BST / 11 p.m. ET. These timings could change due to the length of the undercard fights. 
The Zeus Network will be showing the event globally on PPV.
The fight will take place at FLA Live Arena, Florida, in the United States.

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Fans of the smaller weight divisions were treated to what was arguably the Upset of the Year when Adrian Curiel scored a brutal and sensational second-round knockout over the previously unbeaten Sivenathi Nontshinga at the weekend.
Curiel (24-4-1, 5 KOs) picked up the IBF light flyweight title and announced himself among the division elite. The sky’s the limit for the Mexican star who will now be in the sights of unified titleholder Kenshiro Teraji, who hopes to become boxing’s first-ever undisputed champion at this weight.
What’s changed at light flyweight following the colossal upset?
The Sporting News recently gathered opinions from members of its combat team to produce a top 12 list at light flyweight:
MORE: Kenshiro Teraji and the road to undisputed
This Filipino-based fighter is still to mix with distinguished opposition, but he’s unbeaten over the past five years and his career is heading in the right direction.
Magramo has prevailed in a trio of WBO domestic title fights over the past three years and he’s due another step up in class. Once he takes that step, we’ll be in a better position to predict his ceiling in this division.
Next Fight: TBA
Blink and you might miss this hard-hitting 23-year-old from the Philippines.
Five of Fajardo’s 10 knockout wins have come in the first round and he’s only seen the sixth round four times in his career. He lost his third professional fight, and a couple of draws suggest that his technical craft can’t match his concussive hitting power. However, Fajardo is an authentic knockout artist and an exciting addition to the division.
Next Fight: TBA
MORE: SN’s Top-12 list of pound-for-pound boxers

Another Filipino fighter, Suganob quickly brushed aside the learning curve fights and has been holding his own at the top level.
Despite losing his unbeaten record to talented IBF champ Sivenathi Nontshinga, the 26-year-old Suganob has shown promise. He earned his world title shot by winning back-to-back fights over unbeaten opponents in Andika D’Golden Boy and Mark Vicelles.
He recently bounced back from the Nontshinga setback by outpointing Ronald Chacon.
Next Fight: TBA
It’s almost a tradition for Japanese fighters to hold lofty spots in the lower weight classes and the 2023 light flyweight division is no exception.
Iwata’s lone defeat came at the hands of reigning WBO champion Jonathan Gonzalez. The 27-year-old pressure-puncher performed well in that fight and ultimately succumbed to the champion’s class and experience. Undeterred, Iwata has bounced back with a pair of stoppage wins and he’ll be looking for big fights.
Next Fight: TBA
Prior to suffering his first loss to Carlos Canizales, the only blemishes on Matellon’s record were a pair of back-to-back draws in 2016 and 2017.
The Cuban boxer-puncher was competitive in spots against Canizales but he was deducted two points for headbutts and lost a technical decision when the fight was stopped. Losing this WBA eliminator blunted the 35-year-old’s momentum and he doesn’t have time on his side for a slow and deliberate rebuild.
Next Fight: TBA

Venezuela’s Canizales is a former WBA regular champion and he’s still in the world title picture right now.
A 2021 stoppage loss to Esteban Bermudez in a fight Canizales was winning cut deep. However, the 30-year-old has bounced back with four straight wins, including a stoppage triumph over Ganigan Lopez and a technician decision over Daniel Matellon.
Next fight: TBA
MORE: SN’s Top-5 pound-for-pound boxers from Japan
The former WBO champ has posted solid results down the years, although he badly needs a standout win to prove his world-level status.
Soto surrendered his WBO title to Jonathan Gonzalez in 2021 and was then outpointed by ring-wise veteran Hekkie Budler in a close fight. In need of a warm-up bout, the Mexican star faced countryman Brian Mosinos last time out and was considered beyond lucky to receive a split decision victory.
Next Fight: TBA

While Yabuki became something of a Cinderella story thanks to his stunning 2021 upset triumph over Kenshiro Teraji, the Japanese puncher can definitely fight.
Teraji blasted him out in their rematch, but Yabuki has bounced back with stoppage wins over Thanongsak Simsri and Ronald Chacon. With a 93-percent knockout ratio, the ex-champ is a threat to any light flyweight he shares the ring with. If he can keep winning, then another world title shot is sure to come his way.
Next Fight: TBA
MORE: SN’s Top-12 list of heavyweight boxers
The old warhorse of the division has no quit in him and yet another career resurgence following his recent loss to Teraji would not come as a shock.
Budler has been a professional for 16 years and has held world titles at both minimumweight and light flyweight. The amiable South African star has mixed with the best and owns wins over Ryoichi Taguchi and Elwin Soto.
While he’s 35 years old, his fighting spirit is undeniable and the former champ’s name recognition could secure him another big fight before he retires.
Next Fight: TBA
Nontshinga appeared to be the dark horse in this division until prohibitive underdog Adrian Curiel knocked him out with a single right-hand shot and relieved him of the IBF title.
The 24-year-old Nontshinga won the championship by outpointing Hector Flores in a classic encounter. He defended the title by posting a decision win over the underrated Regie Suganob before coming unstuck against Curiel.
Was this first defeat an aberration or has Nontshinga been found out?
Next Fight: TBA

Curiel didn’t have much going for him heading into his first world title bout against the talented Sivenathi Nontshinga. There were no distinguished names on his record, and his knockout ratio (only 16 percent of his wins had come via stoppage) was hardly intimidating.
Bang!
After posting a solid first round against the IBF champion, Curiel closed out in the second with a single right hand to the jaw. It was an incredible finish and a surefire contender for both Knockout of the Year and Upset of the Year.
What did we miss? Well, Curiel is Mexican. 
Next fight: TBA
This Puerto Rican southpaw has proven to be a gutsy and talented competitor since turning professional in 2011. Gonzalez’s form was patchy during the embryonic stages of his career, but he stayed focused and his form gradually improved.
Following a seventh-round stoppage loss at the hands of Kosei Tanaka at flyweight, the 32-year-old Gonzalez dropped down to light flyweight. That proved to be a very wise decision, as “Bomba” claimed the WBO title at the expense of Elwin Soto before making two successful defences.
Next Fight: TBA

The cream of the crop at light flyweight, there’s Teraji and then there’s the rest.
While he might not have the crushing power of countryman Naoya Inoue, the 31-year-old Teraji can still crack with both hands and he has a wonderful skill set. The one blemish on his record – a stoppage loss to Masamichi Yabuki in 2021 – was down to a Covid-related hangover and avenged via a shuddering third-round knockout.
Teraji has already defeated the likes of Ganigan Lopez (twice), Milan Melindo, Hiroto Kyoguchi, and Budler. However, with the undisputed championship in his sights, the goal is to knock off rival champions Gonzalez and Nontshinga as quickly as possible.
Next Fight: TBA
Tom Gray is a deputy editor covering Combat Sports at The Sporting News.

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