Jermell Charlo: My Breakout Fight
Former WBC world junior middleweight champion Jermell “Iron Man” Charlo (32-1, 16 KO’s) finds himself in an odd place mentally and professionally these days. Last December 21, he lost his belt to Tony “Super Bad” Harrison (28-2, 21 KO’s) via twelve round unanimous decision. Despite losing his belt, and undefeated record, Iron Man has remained positive and in good spirits.
FEELING BULLET PROOF
One reason for his positive outlook is because the win is largely regarded as being controversial. Since he was not dominated in any serious form or fashion, Charlo does not feel as though he truly lost.
Outside of still feeling like the champion, Iron Man was rather surprised to see he enjoyed a spike in public interest instead of suffering a decline. Due to residing in such a beneficial mental space Charlo is extremely ready to hop on the scales for the official weigh-in so that they can jump in the ring on Saturday.
Unlike Harrison, Charlo staged one bout with Jorge “Demonio” Cota (29-4, 26 KO’s) since their December 1 dust-up. Although the match was a brief three rounds, Charlo was appreciative of the camp and experience. Iron Man wholeheartedly believes that every camp and fight makes him that much efficient and deadly.
“I feel good, I’m in shape, I’m so conditioned, I’m so clear mentally-minded. I just got my mind set to going in this fight, handling my business and enjoying the rest of the year. It’s that fight, get it over with and then have some, get it over with have fun, make weight then the fight is here. I can’t wait until weigh-in…
[On life since the first fight] It was just a bigger opportunity for me, it didn’t really change, it just got better you know? It just got better, it’s like more fans, more love, more support. You know I didn’t have a loss like other guys in the weight division. They losing, losing and I was controversial. It’s weird, that loss didn’t affect me, it didn’t matter to me.”
TIME TO SHOW AND PROVE
Although, no matter how good Charlo feels about himself, his career and stature in the sport he does understand that he needs to snatch his belt back. His internal determination to reclaim his hardware has resulted in a very focused and beneficial camp. Iron Man maintains that he had the tools to overcome Harrison. Now he believes that he is sharper than ever.
In fact, Jermell Charlo is faithful that this upcoming prizefight will serve as his breakout performance. As the younger and smaller Charlo twin, Jermell thinks he will forever be set apart from his brother, WBC world middleweight champion Jermall “Hit Man” Charlo (30-0, 22 KO’s) after he dismantles Tony Harrison.
“Yeah before it was like ‘yeah, I’m out there! I’m hanging out!’ Nah, it aint no hanging out. It’s not because I am overly focused, it’s just honestly straight up like ‘nah, I got something else that I got on my mind right now’…
It ain’t no do or die situation for me. I’m coming to show the world Jermell Charlo, the other twin, the little twin. This is my standout, breakout time. I’m going to take advantage of my opportunity.”
By: Bakari Simpson
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