One of the most anticipated boxing rematches in recent memory takes place Saturday in a light middleweight unification fight when Jermell Charlo takes on Brian Castano in a 12-round main event. Their showdown tops a boxing card from Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif., and the main card is set for 9 p.m. ET on Showtime. Last July, the combatants engaged in an action-packed war that resulted in a split draw, and both have vowed to leave the judges out of their rematch. Charlo (34-1-1, 18 KOs) puts his WBC, WBA and IBF belts at stake, while Castano (17-0-2, 12 KOs) brings his WBO title to the table.
The latest Charlo vs. Castano odds from Caesars Sportsbook lists Charlo as the -220 favorite (risk $220 to win $100), with Castano going off as the +180 underdog. The over-under for total rounds is set at 10.5, with the over juiced to -270. There are plenty of other Charlo vs. Castano props on the board such as if the fight will go the distance (yes -220, no +170). Before finalizing any Charlo vs. Castano 2 picks, make sure you check out the boxing predictions and betting advice from SportsLine analyst Brandon Wise.
Wise, who is the combat sports editor for CBS Sports, is an experienced boxing and mixed martial arts analyst who has consistently provided winning selections for SportsLine members. He is coming off an impressive 2021 campaign that saw him hit numerous boxing selections in big-time matchups.
For instance, last November he predicted a stoppage victory between rounds No. 10 and 12 for Canelo Alvarez against Caleb Plant in their super middleweight unification bout. The proposition selection paid +450, and Wise also correctly called the fight to go over 9.5 rounds (-125) as Alvarez stopped Plant in Round 11. His strong 2021 campaign included calling Jamel Herring (+105) to upset Carl Frampton (-125) for the junior lightweight belt. Anyone who has followed Wise's combat sports picks has seen some big returns.
Now, with Saturday's rematch in sight, Wise has studied Charlo vs. Castano 2 from every angle and identified the best value in the boxing odds. You can only see his confident prop bets and money-line picks at SportsLine.
Charlo vs. Castano 2 preview
Earlier this week, Castano held an open workout for the media and appeared relaxed and confident as he fielded questions afterward. In preparation for the rematch with Charlo, Castano said he and his camp worked on bringing a similar level of aggression but with an application of improved defense that limits Charlo's ability to counter.
"We had a lot to learn from the first fight with Charlo," Castano said. "One of the biggest things that I learned is to be more cautious at times while I'm in the ring. He's powerful, but I'm going to bring my power, too. We learned from the first fight and we're going to correct any errors we made."
Castano also said that while he wasn't surprised he and Charlo saw their first fight differently, he is in part motivated by his opponent's insistence at new conferences leading up to the rematch that he won their initial meeting by four rounds.
"Our press conference was intense, and our exchanges definitely motivated me a lot," Castano said. "He saw a different fight than I did if he saw himself winning eight rounds. I don't know what he saw because I felt like I won by two points."
Charlo told the media this week that he is motivated in large part by the historic milestone at stake Saturday night. With a victory, he would become the division's first unified champion in the four-belt era. What's more, he believes a win will cement his status as one of the best boxers of this generation.
Charlo also has a limited but impressive record in rematches. The lone defeat of his career came against Tony Harrison by unanimous decision in December 2018, a loss that cost him the WBC title. One year later, he regained the belt with a dominant performance in a rematch that netted him an 11th-round stoppage.
The only other blemish on Charlo's record is last year's draw against Castano, and Charlo said he intends to again make the most of a second chance.
"One thing Brian Castano knows is, he's got his hands full again," Charlo said. "But I don't care what they say, it's not about Brian Castano. This is Charlo's time."
How to make Charlo vs. Castano 2 picks
Wise likes the over 10.5 rounds. He's also revealed a strong money-line pick and he's locked in a pair of prop picks, including one that returns 3-1. You can only see his boxing picks at SportsLine.
Who wins Charlo vs. Castano 2 and which prop is a must-back? Visit SportsLine now to see Brandon Wise's best bets for Saturday, all from the CBS combat sports specialist who crushed his boxing picks in 2021, and find out.
