This is a well-matched return fight for Jermall Charlo. Thomas LaManna is a lively fighter who can work behind the jab and isn’t afraid to trade at mid-range — but he doesn’t bring anything unpredictable. A solid boxer, but nothing more.

And that’s exactly the kind of opponent Charlo needs after a long layoff — someone who can test his conditioning but doesn’t pose a major threat. When he’s in form, Jermall is a skilled, intelligent boxer with serious power.

They're nearly the same age — Charlo is 34, just a year older than LaManna. But their résumés are worlds apart.

Charlo has been a world champion and has beaten top-tier opposition: Jose Benavidez, Juan Macias Montiel, Sergiy Derevyanchenko, Brandon Adams, Matt Korobov, Austin Trout, and more — and he’s beaten all of them.

LaManna has also faced quality opponents — names like Erislandy Lara and Brian Mendoza — but he’s consistently lost at that level. That said, LaManna has been far more active recently, and that may matter — more on that below.

LaManna’s output depends on the opposition. Against Whitt, he was busy — throwing around 60 punches per round, stopping him in three. But against Lara, he was shut down by smart movement and defensive mastery — ultimately suffering a knockout loss.

Charlo doesn’t throw in flurries — that’s not his style. But he’s extremely efficient: calculated, accurate, and powerful. And that’s exactly the kind of fighter LaManna tends to struggle with — opponents who are smart, hard-hitting, and controlled.

This could be a deciding factor. Charlo hasn’t fought since 2023, when he faced Benavidez. Before that, he was out of the ring for two years, with his previous bouts coming in 2021 against Montiel and 2020 against Derevyanchenko.

In contrast, LaManna has stayed busy — three fights in 2023, one in 2024, and already one in 2025. That may not be an intense schedule, but it's far more than Charlo, who’s been largely inactive.

Four of LaManna’s last five wins have come by stoppage. While the opposition wasn’t elite, it also wasn’t completely soft. On the surface, that may suggest he has an edge in power — especially since Charlo hasn’t scored a stoppage win since 2019.

But that’s misleading.

Charlo can crack. He can stop an opponent with one well-timed shot — especially someone like LaManna, who tends to open up when pressing forward. Charlo may not chase the KO, but he punishes mistakes ruthlessly.

Four of LaManna’s last five wins have come by stoppage. While the opposition wasn’t elite, it also wasn’t completely soft. On the surface, that may suggest he has an edge in power — especially since Charlo hasn’t scored a stoppage win since 2019.

But that’s misleading.

Charlo can crack. He can stop an opponent with one well-timed shot — especially someone like LaManna, who tends to open up when pressing forward. Charlo may not chase the KO, but he punishes mistakes ruthlessly.

This will be Charlo’s eighth fight in Las Vegas — familiar territory. For LaManna, it’s a debut in Vegas, though he’s fought all over the U.S.

Still, in a clash between two Americans, venue likely won’t be a factor — but status might. Charlo is the bigger name and commercial draw, which can matter in a close fight.

LaManna has momentum. He’s active, winning, and staying sharp — even if the competition isn’t elite. That could be significant when facing a more skilled but long-inactive fighter like Charlo.

There’s also the unknown: how much rust will Charlo show? If he’s slower, less motivated, or not fully locked in, we could — theoretically — see the first loss of his career.

But based on what we do know, Charlo is the better fighter in every key category. And with adequate preparation, he should make a successful return to the ring.