Jermall Charlo Doesn’t Plan to Leave Middleweight Anytime Soon!
When it comes to Jermall “Hit Man” Charlo (32-0, 22KOs), there’s a lot to be desired from his career. A two-division champion and the current WBC middleweight champion, the Houston, Texas native has seemingly grown content with fighting “middle-of-the-pack” contenders.
Blessed with height, size, power, athleticism, and boxing skills, the persistence of not making the big fights at 160 and beyond happen has now overshadowed everything when it comes to him. Whether it’s fights with WBO champ Demetrius Andrade, Undisputed super middleweight champ Canelo Alvarez, two-time WBC super middleweight champion David Benavidez, and former IBF super middleweight champ Caleb Plant all not materializing for whatever reason, at 32 years old, the time for him to step up his competition is here more than ever before.
Some would think the success his younger twin brother is having would motivate him. Jermell Charlo is now the undisputed junior middleweight champion after defeating Brian Castaño back on May 14 in their rematch. Prior to that, he built an image of taking on the best contenders that division had to offer.
However, that doesn’t seem to add sense of urgency on behalf of Big Charlo, as he likes to call himself. Speaking to Brian Custer on the Last Stand Podcast, he was asked why he won’t move up to the super middleweight division.
“I’m the champ at 160. It’s only right that I stay where I’m at and continue to do what I’m doing. I reign at 160 and I have got the chance of possibly becoming one of the best in the world. One of the greatest fighters in history at 160. I might be able to eclipse Bernard Hopkins’ record.”
SWINGING AND MISSING!
To be fair, Jermall was recently involved in deep negotiations with former WBO junior middlweight champ and WBC #1 middleweight contender Jaime Munguia (40-0, 32KOs) only to see the deal fall apart at no fault of his own. Earlier this year, his team made a $50 million offer to current undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez, which would have included Alvarez facing both David Benavidez and Charlo. In the end, Alvarez elected to go back to DAZN and take their package offer.
MAKE THE FIGHTS HAPPEN ALREADY
Still with so many big fights at 160 and 168 out there for him, there’s no legitimate excuse why he hasn’t fought in bigger fights at this point in his career. Hopefully this year we get to see him step up his competition because there are plenty of fighters that want to face him. Especially if he wants to go down as one of the greatest middleweights in boxing history.
Reading Time: 3 minutes
By: Jerrell Fletcher
