Jermall Charlo says he is not looking for weaker opposition
With only a couple days before his next fight, WBC World Middleweight champion Jermall “Hit Man” Charlo (31-0, 22 KO’s) is in a good place, mentally. He is happy to be a productive provider for his family and loves being a world champion. Charlo is even happy to be facing the little known Juan “Juanito” Montiel (22-4-2, 22 KO’s) in the Juneteenth main event. The trouble with this is so many in the boxing world are not content with his current level of opposition.
During the final presser, the Hit Man was questioned about his desire to face IBF World Middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin. It is no secret that Charlo would love that fight and he has called for it. Unfortunately, Golovkin has never shown even a slight indication that he was willing to test his skills against the WBC champion. So, at this point, it should not be a surprise to hear Charlo confirm that he is not breaking his neck to get that bout.
“I just don’t want to pick on an older man and make it look like I am going for the weaker prey. But he does have a belt, so if it is a time to unify before he runs out of gas, then I am here to fight him. Like you said, my legacy is on the line. So, I fight for my legacy and the people that love me and that’s just what I am for.”
THE RECEIPTS AIN’T ADDING UP
There is nothing wrong putting everything on the line for those that you love. In fact, that is an extremely commendable quality to have. No one has a problem with those sentiments. Yet, there will be quite a few raised eyebrows and lips twisted upon hearing Charlo say that he fights for legacy.
“I’m a real fighter, myself, so I am down to fight myself. Boxing is boxing, you know I’ve got the experience enough to hold my crown. So I can hold my ground with Canelo, I can hold my ground with Golovkin. I’m ready to fight a big name but I can’t get the big names in there with me. I have to keep continuing to make money and support my family, so that is what I am doing.”
It is also funny that Charlo routinely brings up Canelo and Golovkin, two men who openly don’t want to fight him, but never Benavidez or Andrade. Both, former super middleweight champion David Benavidez and WBO World Middleweight champion Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade, are big names. Each man has time and time again expressed interest in going to head to head with Charlo. And both men left the door wide open to sign a fight. Despite this, the Hit Man doesn’t display any appetite for these fights when it is time to actually get them done.
TRY A NEW LINE
Throughout the entire pre-fight build-up for their bout, the ambiguity of who Montiel was remained a constant theme. Therefore, it is impossible for anyone on Team Charlo to say the Mexican was selected for his name recognition. Meanwhile, Boo Boo is currently a champion and represents a big time unification bout.
Benavidez is an undefeated, two-time world champion with a great future ahead. Not only this, there are already tremendous calls for unified super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez to face him in the ring. After Benavidez was stripped of his WBC belt for missing weight, Canelo was swiftly awarded the WBC title. Due to how the belt changed hands, there is no shortage of people who still view that as Benavidez’s title. That storyline by itself is more interesting than anything that has been said about Montiel to date.
This is all said to say, there are too many contradictions flying in the face of Charlo’s claim that no one of note will fight him. Boxing is a dangerous sport and a man should take care of his family. No one is trying to deny these solid realities. Yet, when it comes to his legacy and appeasing the fans, Jermall Charlo is seriously dropping the ball. Let’s just hope that once his business with Montiel is concluded, the Hit Man sets his eyes on grander opposition.
By: Bakari Simpson
Be the first to comment