Jermall Charlo vs Thomas LaManna Keys to Victory: Breaking down tactics of each fighter

After an absence of over 18 months, Jermall Charlo returns to the ring.

The former junior middleweight and middleweight world champion clashes with Thomas LaManna at Michelob Ultra Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas on Saturday night.

Charlo is co-headlining the card with Caleb Plant who takes on Jose Armando Resendiz. If both Charlo and Plant are victorious, they will likely meet later this year.

• Read next | Why has Jermall Charlo only fought once in three-and-a-half years?

Charlo (33-0, 22 KOs) is coming off a November 2023 unanimous decision over Jose Benavidez Jr.

LaManna (39-5-1, 18 KOs) last defeated Noe Alejandro Lopez by second-round TKO this past March.

Will Charlo be dominant in victory and get himself back into title contention? Or will LaManna shock the world with an upset?

Here, DAZN News analyzes the keys to victory for both fighters.

Jermall Charlo's keys to victory

Establish the power jab off the front foot

Jermall Charlo masterfully plants his lead left foot, drawing his line in the sand and declaring his ring real estate for the night.

What tends to immediately follow is a crisp, piston-like power jab.

Charlo asserting this weapon early should go long ways to quickly shedding any ring rust he might have built up during his lengthy absence.

Stab jab to the body

Another variation of Charlo’s jab is using it as a stab jab to the body.

This stab jab pushes opponents back, forcing them to reset their offense each time.

Plus, the alternating between the jab upstairs and to the body often leaves opponents ripe for the picking for something more impactful to land when they least expect it.

Unleash the combinations ending with uppercuts

With the aforementioned jabs running like clockwork, Charlo also possesses the ability to unleash clean, power punch combinations when pressured.

These combinations, especially ones ending with a slashing uppercut, will definitely put points on the board against LaManna — or flat out end his night, altogether.

Thomas LaManna’s keys to victory

Assert a body attack

Cranking, crunching hooks to the body are part of Thomas LaManna’s arsenal.

Having success to Jermall Charlo’s body could be a way for the former middleweight world champion to lower his guard just enough for LaManna to catch him with something more damaging upstairs.

Keep guard high, crowd Charlo’s space

LaManna likes to walk opponents down but often he lowers his guard while doing so. The New Jersey native cannot afford to have such a lapse against the experienced Charlo.

He must be disciplined with his guard while attempting to close the space between himself and Charlo, getting the latter off his front foot where he is so comfortable.

Measured pressure from LaManna should look to cut the ring and snag some ring real estate of his own.

Take chances

During the final fight conference Thursday, LaManna vowed “come Saturday night, we’re going to shock the world.”

If the 33-year-old is going to make good on that promise, he is going to have to roll the dice and take chances in catching an unsuspecting Charlo off guard.

That could be the only way he stands a chance to upset the former two-division world champion.

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