Jermall Charlo Returns in November Against Jose Benavidez Jr.
Jermall “Hit Man” Charlo (32-0, 22 KOs) is finally ready to fight again. Word on the street is that the undefeated and reigning WBC middleweight champion will face Jose Benavidez Jr. (28-2-1, 19 KOs) in San Antonio, Texas. The bout will be on the November 25 undercard of the super middleweight showdown between David Benavidez and Demetrius Andrade.
A LENGTHY LAYOFF
The middleweight champion has been out of action since a unanimous decision victory over Juan Macias Montiel in June 2021. Since that outing, Charlo was been beset with undisclosed personal issues. But in recent months, he has hinted that a return to the ring was imminent.
Due to his ring absence, some in the boxing community have questioned whether Charlo is being protected and has been given unusual concessions by the WBC. But the sanctioning body has supported the Texas native and refused to strip him of the belt.
Many fans remember Benavidez Jr. from his twelfth-round stoppage loss to the then-WBO welterweight champion, Terence Crawford, in October 2018. After winning his first twenty-six fights as a pro, Benavidez Jr. is 1-4-1 in his last six outings and seems to be on the downside in his career.
Many fans will heavily criticize this matchup. Charlo is more of a super middleweight at this point in his career. Benavidez Jr. has fought mostly at 140 and 147 pounds. As of this writing, it’s unknown if Charlo’s middleweight title will be at stake. But on paper, most observers consider Charlo to be a considerable favorite.
There seems to be a clear motive behind this matchup. A win for Charlo could set up a fight between him and the current undisputed super middleweight champion, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, in 2024.
