Jermall Charlo willing to take on Canelo at 168lbs
Over the weekend, boxing’s resident cash cow Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (54-1-2, 36 KO’s) claimed another two world titles. The Mexican chased around and beat-up Callum “Mundo” Smith (27-1, 19 KO’s) for twelve rounds before usurping his WBA super world super middleweight title. Canelo also acquired the vacant WBC super middleweight title which was put on the line fairly last minute. Alvarez added those two trinkets to his WBA super world middleweight title.
Now that he is a champion in two separate divisions, the question naturally becomes: ‘Who’s next?” According to Alvarez himself, he is on a mini-mission at 168 to unify all the belts. Therefore, we will just have to wait and see how that plan works out. Yet, just because the redhead is taking a break from the middleweight division does not mean the division is done with him.
DE LA HOYA WAS LYING!
WBC world middleweight champion Jermall “Hit Man” Charlo (31-0, 22 KO’s), for example, is still itching for a fight with Alvarez. Charlo is a powerful fighter, with a strong following who many believe would serve as a great opponent for Canelo. Despite expressing his desire for a dance date with the redhead, nothing has materialized.
In January of 2020, Alvarez’s former promoter Oscar De La Hoya of Golden Boy promotions claimed that a contract had been sent to Charlo. However, De La Hoya said that for reasons of his own, the Hit Man opted not to take the offer. Now, almost a year later, Charlo is saying that is pure fantasy. While going live on his social media, the Texan explained how his being offered a contract was a fabrication of the truth.
“Listen to me, look at me right quick, Canelo never gave me no contract. I never turned down no contract, I never got a contract from Oscar De La Hoya, I never got a call [or] contract. I played along with the shit, they made it relevant. I never got a contract from none of them…Canelo ain’t never gave me no contract, I ain’t never ducked nothing in life. I’d never do no shit like that! Why would I do some shit like that, that’s going to put my whole family up; like I’m going to change my mama life! Why would I duck a fight with Canelo?! Y’all stupid as fuck!”
WILLING TO TRAVEL FOR WORK
It is odd though that Charlo would choose to play along with a lie that made him look bad. However, now that he has shined light on that misconception, Charlo restated his interest in facing Alvarez. Not only did the Hit Man say that he wants the fight, he indicated he is willing to take the prizefight at super middleweight. There is open speculation that Canelo cannot make middleweight anymore, or perhaps he is unwilling to make the sacrifice any longer. Whatever the case may be, Charlo has volunteered to take that obstacle off the table.
“I’m not going to 168, I’m going to 160. Canelo got to come to 160 man. I’ll go to 168! Fuck it, I’ll go to 168. Excuse my language, I’ll go to 168. I gotta get the fight!”
While it is good to know that Charlo is willing to travel to make the bout, it is still not likely to happen. Again, Canelo has never shown any great interest in facing Charlo, even when he was actively campaigning at middleweight. So a fight with the Hit Man now, with no title to gain, seemingly would hold little appeal for the Mexican. Also, if Alvarez remains true to his word, he is only seeking out super middleweight titles now anyway. Obviously, Charlo does not have any.
So for now, we will just have to wait and see who becomes the next winner of the Canelo Alvarez sweepstakes.
By: Bakari Simpson
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