By Brian Webber: Jermell Charlo says he’s definitely going to be returning to 154 for a possible fight with Terence Crawford after he first deals with the Canelo Alvarez business on Saturday.
Jermell (35-1-1, 19 KOs) wants to scoop up Canelo’s four belts to become undisputed at super middleweight, but he says he isn’t staying at 168.
That makes a lot of sense because if Jermell stays, he’ll need to defend against David Morrell Jr. & David Benavidez, and that’s obviously a bridge too far for Charlo. He’s not crazy.
The game plan that Jermell leaked on Wednesday involving using movement to defeat Canelo would be totally ineffective against Benavidez & Morrell.
So, Jermell is going to catch & release with the four 168-lb titles and then head to safe waters at 154 for a lucrative fight with Crawford, and likely the winner of the Tim Tszyu vs. Brian Mendoza fight.
Jermell returning to 154
“I think that 168 is a real comfortable weight for me. I don’t want to be at 168. I’ll go down to 154. I got some other stuff to handle over there and make money over there as well,” said Jermell Charlo to the media about his plans after he faces Canelo Alvarez on Saturday night.
We’ll see if Jermell winds up weight-drained returning to the 154-lb division because that’s not going to be easy for him to do after fighting at 168.
Charlo already looked drained before making weight at 154, but it’s going to be really difficult to do after this. Given that Jermell is reportedly making $20 million for the Canelo fight, he should stay there or move down to 160 and fight Crawford at that weight.
“I know my brother’s at 168, and I know we’re going to be doing some shifts soon within the Charlos and the cruise and the Errols and everybody, but that’s to be determined.
“Where we can make a fight at, I’ll take it,” said Jermell when asked if he’d be interested in fighting Terence Crawford at 154. “I’m not too focused on Crawford at the moment.
“I should be one or two; I should be up there in the top dogs. Pound-for-pound doesn’t matter to me,” said Jermell.
Canelo will be coming forward
“I know Canelo’s coming forward; I know he’s coming to punch strong, hard,” said Jermell. “I’m prepared for the power shots, the body shots. Of course, he’s going to throw body shots. That’s what it’s about.”
It’s good that Jermell knows what he’s in for on Saturday night, but that might not help him against Canelo because he’s going to be cutting off the ring, forcing him to fight.
Even if Canelo only gets to Jermell four or five times each round, he’s going to land hard shots, which will impress the judges to score the rounds in his favor.
“I’m prepared just to personally,” said Jermell. “Boxing is a warrior sport. So you’re going to get hit. I’m prepared for just about everything in this fight. No, I’m not going to be fight night at 168, absolutely not.
“I’m not showing respect; I come to win. When you’re in the ring, no respect is given. I move better than everybody, and I adjust better. I like that scenario. Make the bull chase & run until it lays down.
“I had a few haters and a few people that didn’t really believe in me, but as long as I keep doing what I got to do, I make it this far. Because I think the people that were handling it didn’t see either the value in me or they saw that the skills I possessed were a little too much at the time.
“I was a live dog and a live animal, which I still am. Now, we have the right people operating it. Thirty-three years old, it’s never too late, and so we get it on,” said Jermell when asked why it took so long for him to finally get the Canelo fight.
