By Chris Williams: Jermell Charlo it clear today that he views Terence Crawford as just clout-chasing PBC fighters, and he doesn’t want to fight anyone.
Given the 35-year-old Crawford’s advanced age, he could be over the hill by the time he gets a chance to fight for a world title at 154. He didn’t look good in his title defense last Saturday night, as he’s starting to slow down.
Crawford commented recently that he’s going to beat undisputed junior middleweight champion Jermell (35-1-1, 19 KOs) when he moves up to 154.
But despite Crawford’s brave talk, he bailed out when he had a chance to fight Errol Spence, and chose instead to defend his WBO welterweight title against David Avanesyan.
Crawford (39-0, 30 KO) may have permanently wrecked his chances of ever getting a fight with Spence after he disappeared without warning during their recent negotiations.
Spence (28-0, 22 KOs) doesn’t have time to waste on trying to negotiate against fighters who aren’t going to stick around to put a fight together.
“I didn’t get to see his fight. I never heard of what he’s done. I never heard of his opponent,” said Jermell Charlo during today’s kickoff press conference, reacting to being told that Terence Crawford said that he’ll beat him “easily” when they eventually fight.
“I’m just focused on what I have in front of me, and I’m not even aware of it. Everybody says they’re going to beat this or that. All I see is him riding off on the names of the PBC fighters,” Jermell continued about Crawford. “He ain’t even trying to fight nobody.
Jermell is defending against his WBO mandatory Tim Tszyu (21-0, 15 KOs) on January 28th on Showtime Championship Boxing at the Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas.
“These people over here are a whole different ball field,” said Jermell. “Do you know what I’m saying? He’s playing in the AFL. I’m playing in the NFL. I’m top-tier. I’ve got all the rings. I’m Tom Brady. The black one.
“I want it to be where it is now. I want it to be undisputed,” said Charlo when asked what kind of legacy he wants to leave. Now, I want to defend them. When you think of Jermell Charlo, I’m a ferocious animal that’s coming in the ring. I’m for real about every move I make.
“I’m very intelligent in the ring, smart outside the ring, and made a living for myself. I build more boxing legacies around me. There are people trying to come up in the game and change their lives. Put the guns down, put the gloves in their hands. Doing some things similar to Jake Paul.
“There are a lot of fighters out there who are great that don’t get that opportunity,” said Charlo.