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The rematch between WBC, WBA and IBF junior middleweight champion Jermell Charlo 34-1-1 (18) and WBO counterpart Brian Castaño 17-0-2 (12) will take place at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California on May 14.
On a separate card, WBA and IBF bantamweight champion Naoya ‘The Monster’ Inoue 22-0 (19) will face WBC titleholder Nonito ‘The Filipino Flash’ Donaire 42-6 (28) in Tokyo, Japan on June 7 in a rematch of their Ring magazine 2019 Fight of the Year.
American Charlo, 31, fought undefeated 32-year-old Argentinean Castaño to a disputed split draw in their first unification bout last July.
“I’m the unified champ and I’ve got business to finish,” Charlo said. “My total goal as a kid was to win all of the belts as a professional and I plan to make history yet again on May 14, in front of my west coast fans and all across the world.
“If you know me, you know how I don’t take opportunities lightly – Lions Only, the time is now! Make sure you tune in on May 14.”
Castaño said: “I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to face Charlo again for all four titles. This is champion vs champion, just like it should be.
“The first fight was a great war. The rematch will be no different, but this time I won’t leave it in the judges’ hands. This is my era, and I will prove it.”
The winner of the bout will inherit the WBO mandatory defence against Australian Tim Tszyu 21-0 (15) who was in action last weekend with a comprehensive 12-round points victory over 2012 American Olympian Terrell Gausha 22-3-1 (11).
Meanwhile, Japanese superstar Inoue, 28, will look to consolidate his credentials and unify three of the four major world titles against the evergreen Donaire.
Their first fight in the final of the World Boxing Super Series went right down to the wire with Inoue suffering a fractured eye socket but dropping the 39-year-old Donaire with a liver shot in the 11th round to secure the victory by scores of 116-111, 114-113 and 117-109.
“I’d like to win more convincingly than in our first encounter,” Inoue said. “I wish to have Nonito counted out this time since people called the previous eleventh-round knockdown a long count.”
Donaire said: “Each has become stronger than last time and you will see more excitement this time. The first fight had me revived and back. I’ll appear stronger and more motivated against Naoya. I hope to unify all the four belts after defeating Naoya to win the three at first.”
The Ring magazine has Inoue ranked as their number four pound-for-pound boxer in the world as well at their 118-pound champion.
Neither Charlo nor Castaño appear on the magazine’s pound-for-pound list despite the American listed as their champion. Castaño is the number one contender in their rankings.
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