No one can say it hasn’t been built well.

Give Tony Harrison and Jermell Charlo credit. They’ve turned an interesting but not exactly blazing first fight with a debatable decision into a rematch with real buzz. Whether their animosity is real or not, and it appears they don’t care for each other, they’ve both done a great job in selling the fight.

The Charlo brothers have always had charisma to go with their talent. Harrison has held his own in the personality department for this one.

Now they have to fight (Saturday, Fox, 8 PM EST).

It is yet another intriguing entry in what likely will be recalled as a high water era at 154 lbs. While Jr. middleweight hasn’t brought glamour dollars, it’s particularly been a feather in the cap for the PBC with a couple Fight of the Year-level battles in recent vintage delivered from a deep bench in the division.

Charlo has double the reason to enter the ring aggravated. His loss to Harrison was widely debated with many feeling Charlo got the business on the cards. Harrison was forced to postpone the rematch in June with an injury.

Charlo has accused Harrison of faking. Harrison hasn’t taken it kindly.

Will it mean fireworks?

Let’s get into it.

Stats and Stakes

Tony Harrison

Titles: WBC super welterweight (2018-Present, 1st Attempted Defense)

Previous Titles: None

Age: 29

Height: 6’1 

Weight: 153 ¼ lbs.

Stance: Orthodox

Hails from: Detroit, Michigan

Record: 28-2, 21 KO, 2 KOBY

Press Rankings: #3 (TBRB), #6 (Ring, ESPN, Boxing Monthly), #7 (BoxRec)

Record in Major Title Fights: 1-1, 1 KOBY 

Last Five Opponents: 114-25-1 (.818)

Current/Former World Champions Faced: Bronco McKart TKO1; Jarrett Hurd TKO by 9; Ishe Smith SD10; Jermell Charlo UD12

Vs.

Jermell Charlo

Age: 29

Title: None

Previous Titles: WBC super welterweight (2016-18, 3 Defenses)

Height: 5’11  

Weight: 153 ½ lbs.

Stance: Orthodox

Hails from: Houston, Texas

Record: 32-1, 16 KO?

Press Rankings: #4 (TBRB), #7 (Ring, ESPN, Boxing Monthly), #10 (BoxRec)

Record in Major Title Fights: 4-1, 3 KO

Last Five Opponents: 130-10-1 (.926)

Current/Former World Champions/Titlists Faced: Joachim Alcine TKO6; Austin Trout MD12; Tony Harrison L12

The Pick

While there was a fair case for seeing Charlo as the winner the first time, there was no denying it was a competitive affair. Harrison is taller and has inches of arm length on Charlo, a compliment to a long jab that worked often to contain Charlo’s attack. Harrison is a vulnerable fighter, stopped twice previously, but look closely and both those losses came to men (Hurd, Willie Nelson) who could match or exceed either his height, reach, or both. Charlo was busier than Harrison but he wasn’t landing much more round to round.

Charlo is a dangerous puncher even if he isn’t quite as menacing there as his twin brother. He just never seemed to significantly hurt Harrison. To win Saturday, Harrison has to establish his jab again, give Charlo something to think about, stay defensively responsible and hope the judges see it his way again. Charlo has to find a way to turn a lot of near misses in the first encounter into landed leather. The thinking here is the challenger will do just that.

Charlo lost close last time and should have a chip on his shoulder here. 24 rounds would be a long time for Harrison to stay just out of harm’s way against a fighter who so far has had sturdier whiskers and is more dynamic offensively. The pick is Charlo by revenge stoppage.    

Rold Picks 2019: 68-19

Cliff Rold is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene, a founding member of the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board, and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America.  He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com