Jermall Charlo says he will fight David Benavidez if…
For a good clip of time, WBC World Middleweight champion Jermall “Hit Man” Charlo (31-0, 22 KO’s) had a public squabble with David “Red Flag” Benavidez (24-0, 21 KO’s). Each man expressed a respect for the other and both invited a fight. Their social media back-and-forth persisted for months and it appeared that a fight would be born of it. Charlo even volunteered to stage a fight in the former champion’s native super middleweight division. Then, quicker than a Thanos finger snap, Charlo lost all interest in the bout.
Not only did he lose interest, Charlo began listing a bizarre series of rationales and stipulations; things such as Benavidez being too young, bringing nothing to the table and having to be fully vaccinated for the fight to happen. This sudden change in demeanor was highlighted even more when Hit Man selected Juan Macias Montiel as his next opponent. That was an odd move because Montiel also lacks a title, has essentially zero following in the US and has four losses on his record. This is in sharp contrast to the undefeated Benavidez who has a vast following and many feel he was swindled out of his WBC 168 pound title.
A GLIMMER OF HOPE
While fielding questions following the weigh-in for his bout with Montiel, the notion of a Benavidez fight was raised again. On this occasion, Charlo indicated that he would fight him, but there would be stipulations.
“I mean if Benavidez can make 160, then we can do it! If we can kind of catch a catch-weight in between 160 and 168, Benavidez is a 168 pounder who hasn’t made the weight. He has no title, he has nothing to offer me. So that’s why people keep mentioning Canelo and Golovkin, the higher stakes. I will fight Benavidez, alright. He is no problem to me!”
“He’s probably like this guy that I’m about to fight now. They talk a lot, ‘I’m strong, I’m this, I’m that.’ But it’s different when you get in there and you have to figure something out. Don’t listen to it, hey fans, y’all keep it locked, we got bigger things in store.”
TIME WILL TELL
On the one hand, at least it’s an improvement to say that he is willing to concede to a catch-weight. Yet, on the other hand, Red Flag is already on record saying that he was not willing to go below 168. As far as Benavidez was concerned, Charlo indicated that he would move up and he meant to hold him to his word. So we shall see what comes of this new twist, if anything at all.
It would be fun to believe that Jermall Charlo does have something bigger in the works, but honestly that is hard to believe. GGG and Canelo are not thinking about him. That’s not his fault, but that’s a fact. Furthermore, the last time the Hit Man said Benavidez brought little to the table, he went out and found an opponent who literally brought nothing to the table. The only realistic major prizefight that would silence the fans at this point is a unification bout with WBO World Middleweight champion Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade. Yet, when that topic was last broached, Charlo had no interest in him either. So, as always, we will just have to wait and see how it all plays out.
By: Bakari Simpson
