The planned rematch between Tony Harrison and Jermell Charlo for the WBC junior middleweight title looks like it won't take place later this month as originally intended.
According to Mike Coppinger, the rematch, scheduled for June 23 as the main event of a Fox-televised card from the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, won't happen as Harrison suffered an injury. Harrison has reportedly withdrawn from the fight and now Fox is looking to keep the fight card intact.
The card also has a title eliminator for the WBC super bantamweight title between former world champion Guillermo Rigondeaux and Julio Ceja. The winner of that fight would be the mandatory challenger for the winner of the Rey Vargas vs. Tomoki Kameda fight taking place later this year.
SOURCES: Tony Harrison is injured and has withdrawn from June 23 junior middleweight title rematch vs. Jermell Charlo. FOX will still televise show from Vegas on June 23 that includes 122-pound eliminator between Guillermo Rigondeaux and Julio Ceja. Main event undecided
— Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) June 3, 2019
It’s unclear at this time if Jermell Charlo will remain on card against new opponent or if fight with Tony Harrison will be rescheduled for next outing. Charlo was controversially outpointed by Harrison in December.
— Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) June 3, 2019
According to Boxing Scene, Harrison suffered an ankle injury and is set to have surgery on June 5. As for Charlo, he could potentially face Jorge Cota on the Fox-televised card, but that is still pending approval from the network.
The fight was supposed to be a rematch for the WBC title after Harrison won a controversial 12-round decision against Charlo last December in Brooklyn, New York. The loss snapped Charlo's run as champion which started in May 2016 and had three successful title defenses.
