By Brian Webber: Jermell Charlo answered Terence Crawford’s call out tonight on Instagram, saying he’ll be returning to 154 after he defeats undisputed 168-lb champion Canelo Alvarez twice.
In an ideal scenario, we could see Jermell defend his IBF, WBA & WBC junior middleweight titles against Crawford in the second half of 2024 after Charlo finished Canelo’s career.
What would be better is for the 36-year-old Crawford to show true courage by moving up to 168 to challenge Jermell Charlo for his undisputed championship. If Crawford is going to let Jermell take all the risks, he shouldn’t be allowed to fight him.
It’s better for Jermell if that’s how it plays out with Crawford moving up to super middleweight to fight him because then Charlo can stay at 168 and face these four killers:
- David Benavidez
- David Morrell Jr.
- Caleb Plant
- Demetrius Andrade
That way, we wouldn’t have the same pitiful situation with Crawford capitalizing on a weight-drained Jermell, who would have to take off massive amounts of weight to return to 154.
Crawford needs to show some ambition
Why should Jermell be the one that’s taking all the risks, while Crawford passively sits back and takes advantage?
The least Crawford could do would be to move up to 168 to try and become a four-division champion by facing Jermell for his belts.
Jermell (35-1-1, 19 KOs) will challenge the famous superstar Canelo (58-2-2, 39 KOs), who some have labeled the ‘Face of Boxing’ for his four super middleweight titles on Showtime PPV next month on September 30th.
With Canelo’s price, he’ll likely face Jermell in an immediate rematch early next year in May 2024 on the Mexican holiday Cinco de Mayo and will effectively have his career on the line for that fight.
It would be a tremendous contest, given what would be at stake for the 33-year-old Canelo would be in a must-win situation against Charlo.
Losing to WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol last year had had a built-in excuse for Canelo, with his blaming the defeat on fighting one division above his natural weight class of 168 and then throwing in an extra explanation for what went wrong by saying he had a hand injury.
If Canelo losses to Jermell, who will be coming up from two divisions below at 154 to challenge him, nothing he can say will absolve him of what happened, particularly if he loses twice.
Canelo would have to admit to himself and to the fans that he’s met his match and is not good enough to defeat Jermell.
Jermell Charlo Instagram statement
“About To Shock The World [@168], then I’m coming back To hold my throne down at [@154]. I’m the King. Nothing Will Stop Me. Mega-fight’s here on out. After my boy [Canelo Alvarez] rematch, we can give the people what they want and make the Terence ‘Bud’ Crawford [fight] happen!” said Jermell Charlo on Instagram about his intentions of returning to 154 to defend his three titles against Crawford after he beats Canelo twice at 168.
If Jermell is strategic about this with his decision-making, he can make a fortune of $100 million+ by retiring from boxing.
The money that Jermell can make by staying at 168 to defend against Crawford would be far more than if he returned to 154 to defend his three belts and then recapture his WBO strap, which will have been stripped from him by the World Boxing Organization after he faces Canelo on September 30th.
Tim Tszyu will be elevated to WBO junior middleweight champion next month as soon as Jermell enters the ring to challenge Canelo for his undisputed 168-lb championship.
Now the question is would Jermell make more money fighting Tszyu at 154 than he would by staying at 168 to face Benavidez or Plant, for example? It’s an easy answer.
Charlo would make much more money fighting Benavidez or Plant than he would Tszyu because the casual boxing fans in the U.S. aren’t familiar with the Aussie fighter and won’t be as interested in that fight.