Although the fight promised fireworks, champion Jermell Charlo had to go the full 12 rounds to come out with his hand raised on Saturday night in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Charlo dominated from start to finish and although it was a one-sided, unanimous decision victory, he claimed that ring rust on his power that prevented him from sending out a strong statement.
"I'm happy for the win, but the power definitely wasn't there," Charlo acknowledged.
Charlo had two years without stepping into the ring due to mental health problems, and in this return he failed to meet the 163lb catchweight limit for which he had to pay close to $200,000 to keep the fight alive.
However, because of the manner of the victory, Charlo did not give any hints as to what is next.
"I want to fight three or four times, let people see me, see me well.... In whatever division I limit, the goal is to dominate."