LinealBoxingChampion.com: The Record Keeper of Boxing's Lineal Title

Since Floyd Mayweather retired in September, 2015, the Lineal World Championship at 154lbs, has been vacant.

On September 26th, 2020, Jeison Rosario, will fight Jermell Charlo, at Mohegan Sun Casino, in Uncasville, Connecticut, USA, in a contest that Lineal Boxing Champion recognizes as being for the vacant Lineal Junior Middleweight World Championship.

The #1 positions in the leading independent ratings at 154lbs are all held by Charlo (#1 with The Ring and ESPN) and Rosario (#1 with Boxing News and TBRB). Outside of these ratings, Bad Left Hook recently reported that “Charlo cemented his place atop the 154-pound rankings” following his rematch victory over Julian Williams, and on September 14th, 2020, Josh Katzowitz, listing the top 10 Junior Middleweights in the world, for Forbes, ranked Charlo and Rosario as the top 2. Last week Boxing Scene described Charlo/Rosario as a fight that is for the “Lineal Junior Middleweight Championship.” Incidentally, Williams, who was KO’d by Rosario in January 2020, declined an immediate rematch with his conqueror, and at present, still has no fight scheduled.

Charlo is a 4-1 favorite to beat Rosario. Three of the four major sanctioning body titles (WBA/WBC/IBF), as well as the vacant Ring title, are at stake. The absent fourth belt (WBO), is held by Patrick Teixeira, a solid enough fighter, but one who is ranked at no higher than #9 in the independent ratings at Junior Middleweight.

The pre-fight leading independent ratings are listed below (as recorded on September 20th, 2020), and other noteworthy points are also outlined.

Independent Ratings

ESPN and The Ring have Charlo at #1 and Rosario at #2, making Rosario Vs Charlo a “#1 Vs #2” match-up according to their ratings. The TBRB and Boxing News have Rosario at #1 and Julian Williams at #2. Charlo is #4 and #6, with Boxing News and the TBRB, respectively.

Online ratings, September 20th, 2020:

ESPN. #1-Jermell Charlo, #2-Jeison Rosario, #3-Julian Williams, #4-Jarrett Hurd, #5-Erislandy Lara.
Ring. #1-Jermell Charlo, #2-Jeison Rosario, #3-Julian Williams, #4-Jarrett Hurd, #5-Erislandy Lara.
TBRB. #1-Jeison Rosario, #2-Julian Williams, #3-Jarrett Hurd, #4-Jermell Charlo, #5-Brian Castano.
Boxing News. #1-Jeison Rosario, #2Julian Williams, #3-Jarrett Hurd, #4-Erislandy Lara, #5-Brian Castano.

Noteworthy Points

Julian Williams was KO’d by Jeison Rosario in his last fight. Williams elected not to exercise his rematch clause. (1)
Following his December 21st 2019 victory over Tony Harrison, Left Hook Boxing (2) explained that Jermell Charlo was now “atop” the Junior Middleweight rankings:
“Charlo cemented his place atop the 154-pound rankings and avenged his sole career defeat last December with a knockout of Tony Harrison in a barnburner. Though considered the less devastating Charlo twin, he’s now scored six of his last seven wins by (T)KO, and the one exemption saw him put Austin Trout on his butt twice en route to a decision win.”
Rosario Vs Charlo will be contested for the vacant Ring belt, and three of the four major sanctioning body titles (WBC/WBA/IBF).
After September 26th, talk will likely turn to an “undisputed” fight with the WBO titlist, Patrick Teixeira. Before the hype for that begins, at this moment, Patrick is not in the picture for the vacant Lineal Championship at all. He is ranked as follows: #9 (Boxing News), #9 (TBRB), #10 (Ring), #9 (ESPN).
Between them, Charlo and Rosario have all four #1 spots in the Junior Middleweight rankings at ESPN, TBRB, Boxing News and The Ring.
“My objective, If I had my choice, Is Jermell Charlo. He is the best in the division and I want to prove that I am truly the best at 154lbs.” - Jeison Rosario, speaking in early May, 2020, before his fight with Charlo had been agreed. (3)
“This isn’t just for three belts – it will clearly decide who the best junior middleweight on the planet is.” – Steve Kim, Journalist for ESPN, in early September 2020, discussing the scheduled Charlo/Rosario match-up. (4)
Charlo is a 4-1 favourite to beat Rosario. (5)
“I wouldn’t say which one is a better fighter between both of them. But right now, Charlo is considered the best fighter at 154.” – Rosario, speaking in early September, 2020. (5)
“The Ring’s vacant 154-pound championship will also be on the line with the winner becoming the official “top dog” of the division.” – Ryan O’Hara, writing for The Ring, on July 22nd, 2020. (7)
On September 14th, 2020, Forbes listed the top 10 Junior Middleweights in the world, with Charlo at #1 and Rosario at #2. (8)
“Jermell Charlo and Jeison ‘Banana’ Rosario hit town to collide atop a Showtime Pay-Per-View event, contending for the lineal junior middleweight championship and with the WBC/WBA/IBF titles at stake.” – Boxing Scene. (6)

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(1) Donovan J. (2020) Boxing Scene. Julian Williams to not pursue immediate rematch with Jeison Rosario. March 8, 2020. Link: https://www.boxingscene.com/julian-williams-not-pursue-immediate-rematch-with-jeison-rosario--147448

(2) Stumberg P. (2020) Left Hook Boxing. Jermell Charlo Vs Jeison Rosario unification targeted for September. July 21, 2020. Link: https://www.badlefthook.com/2020/7/21/21333334/jermell-charlo-vs-jeison-rosario-unification-targeted-september-pbc-boxing-news

(3) Christ S. (2020) Left Hook Boxing. Jeison Rosario wants unification fight with Jermell Charlo next. May 12, 2020.

(4) Kim S. (2020) ESPN. he 10 can’t miss fights for the rest of 2020. September 10, 2020.

(5) Idec K. (2020) Boxing Scene. Rosario: Charlo definitely stronger than Williams; preparing differently for this fight. September 16, 2020.

(6) Donovan J. (2020) Gausha: I lean more towards Charlo over Rosario, may the best man win. September 19, 2020.

(7) O’Hara R. (2020) The Ring (online). Charlo Twins will co-headline Showtime PPV on September 26 against Derevyanchenko, Rosario. July 22, 2020.

(8) Katzowitz J. (2020) Forbes. The 10 best junior middleweights in boxing: Is Jermell Charlo the tops at 154? September 14, 2020.

[Picture Credit: Premier Boxing Champions]