By Allan Fox: Jermall Charlo says he’s willing to take part in a box-off to determine an opponent for Canelo Alvarez if needed. The unbeaten WBC middleweight champion Charlo (32-0, 22 KOs) failed to get the Canelo fight this year after he turned down a $100 million two-fight in favor of facing Dmitry Bivol and Gennadiy Golovkin this year instead.
Charlo will now be fighting Maciej Sulecki (30-2, 11 KOs) on June 18h on Showtime in Houston, Texas. Jermall’s management attempted to set up a fight with #1 WBC Jaime Munguia, but the talks broke down over the U.S TV rights.
If Jermall were to take part in a box-off, he would likely need to fight David Benavidez, that would be a tough fight. PBC would likely want Caleb Plant to be part of a box-off as well, even though he already got his shot against Canelo and lost last November.
It would be refreshing if Charlo did take part in a box-off because the opposition he’s faced since moving up to 160 has been disappointing.
Many boxing fans believe that PBC making Jermall look better than he is by matching him against weak opposition on Showtime, who televising the poor fights anyway without drawing a line in the same about Charlo needing to be matched against better opposition for them to show his matches.
“I’m just living my dream. There was a lot of talks about Canelo. We offered him $100 million and I didn’t get that fight,” said Jermall Charlo to the DAZN Boxing Show.
“I had eight or nine fights that fell through the week of the fight, so I know how boxing goes. I’m the champ, they’re going to have to fight me. They’re going to have to answer the call one day.
“Who in my weight class wants to fight? That’s the thing. I’ll do it, I’m definitely down,” Jermall said about moving up to 168. “I’m down to go to any weight class or any network. I’m down to be great. Do you know what I’m saying?
“I’ll fight on any network, as long as they watch. It’s not going to do me any harm. I don’t know what the business is with Demetrius Andrade. They might think it’s Jermall Charlo being complicated, but it ain’t.
“Demetrius Andrade was supposed to fight my brother, and he backed out of the fight. I’m not running from anybody. I moved up to” 160. Demetrius Andrade had a belt at 160 and we could have been done unified. He moved up to 168 now. Who is he fighting at 168?
“I’m in a division where I can fluctuate where I want to go. I feel Canelo. I understand what Canelo is going through. Everybody wants to fight Canelo, everybody wants a check.
“I understand him saying we got to do a box-off. That’s what we had to do in the amateurs. It’s not something we’re unfamiliar with. They’re having all the young boys and the small boys coming up to my weight class. Then they’re going to say I’m picking on people.
“I got to go up to heavyweight to get respect? If we got to do a box-off, then let’s stage that.
“I got the money. I’d do that too. I’d entertain that,” said Jermall when asked if he’d be interested in fighting Caleb Plant.
“Probably Benavidez. It’s a big challenge,” said Charlo when asked who he would pick if he could pick anyone to fight. Probably not,” said Jermall when asked if he’d get the credit if he beat Benavidez. “He failed drug tests, missed weight, and lost his belt.
“I love it,” Charlo said when asked about his thoughts on Canelo going tip to 175 to challenge WBA champion Dmitry Bivol. “It’s entertainment. Who wouldn’t want to go up and get all the belts?
“I’m ready. It’s going to happen sooner or later,” Charlo said about him fighting Canelo. “I’m going to get my breakthrough.”