Jermall Charlo looking for a fight with David Benavidez
The world is learning to deal with life under the COVID-19 lockdown and waiting for some sign that things will return to normal. Meanwhile, the boxing community has been highly entertained as fighters and the top boxing promotional companies have taken advantage of social media to keep the sport alive in the minds of the fans.
Two-divisional champion Jermall “Hitman” Charlo (30-0, 22ko) has been making the rounds like many of his boxing counterparts on social media. Moreover, one-half of team Lions Only have been itching to get a fight with boxing mega-star Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (53-1-2, 36ko).
LOOKING INTO THE PAST
The Hitman, after three successful title defenses of the IBF junior middleweight title, moved up to middleweight. There, the WBC placed the former champion in a bout for the interim title against Hugo “The Boss” Centeno Jr. (27-3-1, 14ko).
Furthermore, victory meant the winner would be the mandatory challenger for then-unified champion Gennady “GGG” Golovkin (40-1-1, 35). However, the new Interim champion would have to wait for the results of the rematch between GGG and Alvarez.
The landscape changed when the Mexican mega-star was crowned the division’s new kingpin. Charlo, being the mandatory challenger, quickly targeted the new unified champion. Unfortunately, the WBC later would create the debacle known as the franchise tag. This killed any plans team Charlo had of getting boxing’s biggest earner in the ring, as the Franchise tag prevented the recipient from having to fight mandatories.
ELEVATED BUT NOT RESPECTED
After being elevated from Interim to full champion by the organization, the Texas fighter soon discovered that fans weren’t very receptive to him being given a title without earning it in the ring. Furthermore, the whole franchise tag situation left a very bad taste within the boxing community and a stain on the resume of the new WBC champion.
Looking to prove himself as a legitimate champion, the Texas fighter continued to call for a fight with the Mexican superstar. Moreover, recently the Texas champion was on Instagram with British promoter Eddie Hearn and told the flamboyant promoter to call “Al Haymon.”
LOOKING TO MOVE UP
This is where things get very interesting. Once again, social media is the platform for either venting frustration or making challenges. Fight Hype posted a live stream video between former WBC Super Middleweight champion Anthony “The Dog” Dirrell (33-2-1 24ko) and the WBC Middleweight champion. there was a very serious conversation where the WBC Texas champion states the intention to move up and wanting to fight WBC Super Middleweight champion David “El Bandera Roja” Benavidez (22-0,19ko).
Dirrell: Go to 68
Charlo: Aight 68, here I come, I got the approval.
Dirrell: Yeah, go to 68. Show them niggas Lion’s Only man.
Charlo: If you don’t get that rematch with Benavidez, I’ll take it.
Dirrell: He ain’t gonna give me that rematch.
Charlo: He’s gonna give it to you, he ain’t got no choice, fuck outta here.
Dirrell: He not, I’m telling you. He knows he won’t. That’s why he fought somebody else. Why wouldn’t he take the rematch back to back?
Charlo: He should be walking around in his own brand by now, talking all that shit. How he gonna be talking shit? I’m the champ at middleweight. You saw what happened to Lubin when my brother fought him, he was too young. He was dumb as fuck, he don’t get it. We gon’ show him, let him keep talking shit. I’m gonna come up to 68 and fuck up the whole game up.
By: Garrisson Bland
