Jermell Charlo knocks Jeison Rosario down three times, wins by knockout

Jermell Charlo was cool and calm, while Jeison Rosario was gunning for another knockout.

Cool, calm and some power won the night.

Charlo added the WBA and IBF belts to his collection by knocking out dangerous Jeison Rosario in the eighth round Saturday night at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut.

Charlo (34-1, 18 KOs) scored knockdowns in rounds one and six, the second one more emphatic. Rosario (20-2-1. 13 KOs) was in a world of hurt in round six after being felled by a combination.

The end came early in round eight when a Charlo jab to the gut sent Rosario crumbling to the canvas. Gasping for air the former champion couldn’t beat the count.

Time was 21 seconds into round eight.

“I never seen it – nobody boxing has seen it,” said Charlo. “Something must’ve been seriously done to him prior to that in the earlier rounds. That’s it. I don’t know. I never seen it.”

Rosario, who upset Julian Williams last January to the WBA and IBF titles was hanging tough with Rosario, not necessarily winning, but not doing badly. He landed a few hard shots in the early going. Charlo countered well, taking his time and looking for openings. His jab was on point most of the night.

“I knew that he was going to keep coming after the first knockdown, said Charlo. “He kept pressing for four or five rounds until I floored him again. I’m growing and learning that the knockout just comes. I know that I have explosive power in both hands. I utilized my jab more than any other punch in this fight and that’s what got me these straps.”

Charlo defended his portion of the junior middleweight title for the fourth time.

Added Charlo, “I’m the lineal champion. I hold the crown, I’m the king. I’ll talk with my team and see what’s next.”