David Becker via Getty Images

If ring rust was a factor for Jermall Charlo, he certainly didn't show it Saturday night.

Competing for the first time since November 2023, the former two-division world champion did his part to set up his grudge match with Caleb Plant, dominating Thomas LaManna while securing knockdowns in three consecutive rounds en route to a doctor's stoppage between the fifth and sixth rounds at the Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas.

Charlo (34-0, 23 KOs) had largely been inactive over the past four years due to a combination of injuries and well-documented battles with substance abuse and mental-health issues, but vowed post-fight that there will be "no more dark places." He also called out Saturday's headliner, Plant, with whom he infamously got into a viral scuffle backstage at the Terence Crawford vs. Errol Spence weigh-ins in July 2023, with video catching Plant smacking Charlo with a hard open-handed slap to the face.

"They know what it is, they know where I'm at. I want my lick back," Charlo said of Plant, who defends his WBA interim super middleweight title against Armando Resendiz in the night's main event.

Despite his recent inactivity, Charlo, 35, put on a vintage performance against the overmatched LaManna (39-6-1, 18 KOs). The former super welterweight and middleweight world champion connected early and often with stiff straight shots, outlanding LaManna 67-19 in total punches and 23-5 in power punches. 

Charlo dropped LaManna with a slick right hand in the third round, which also opened a wide cut under LaManna's left eye. Charlo went right back to work in Round 4, catching LaManna again with a pair of left hooks to earn his second knockdown, which was announced between rounds after replay review showed LaManna's knee touched the canvas. 

Charlo then sealed the deal in Round 5, sending LaManna tumbling to the floor with a blistering right hand and ultimately forcing the doctor to stop the contest between rounds.

Post-fight, Charlo was joined in the ring by his twin brother, former undisputed super welterweight world champion Jermell, who echoed Jermall in promising a Charlo takeover for the duo's comebacks.

The two brothers had a falling out during their more turbulent years but reconnected in recent times. Jermall told Uncrowned ahead of the LaManna bout that having his brother back in his corner played a large part in helping his preparation. Jermall also credited his "rebuilt" team, which he said energized him for his comeback and helped him focus on the task at hand.

“I got rid of a lot of the drama," Jermall told Uncrowned. "Got things out of my life that I won’t get that back again. I feel a lot better. It’s one of the best camps I had. There’s laughter. Fun. It’s not about material stuff no more.”

Check out full results, highlights and play-by-play of Saturday's Plant vs. Resendiz card here.

Boxing on Yahoo! Sports – News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games