Canelo Alvarez will reportedly defend his undisputed super middleweight title against Jermall Charlo on May 4th at Cinco de Mayo in Las Vegas. This is expected to be Canelo’s big announcement today.
“Sources reveal Canelo Alvarez-Jermall Charlo on May 4 in Vegas,” says Ring Magazine on X.
Avenging Brother Jermell
Jermall (33-0, 22 KOs) will be attempting to avenge his twin brother, Jermell’s defeat that he suffered at the hands of Canelo last September. Canelo made it look easy, dominating Jermell by a one-sided twelve-round unanimous decision in an embarrassingly easy fight.
Unlike his brother, Jermall won’t give up the ship without a fight and is considered a warrior who battles tooth and nail. However, his inactivity is a problem that could hold him back in this fight.
Jermall has not been active, and he didn’t look that great making his long-awaited comeback last November, beating welterweight Jose Benavidez Jr. by a 10-round unanimous decision.
Boxing fans are angry over Canelo’s (60-2-2, 39 KOs) choice of opponent. They wanted to see him face David Benavidez or Jaime Munguia next, not Jermall, who has fought only once in the last three years.
Fan Anger: Benavidez and Munguia Snubbed
People are labeling this the worst fight of the 33-year-old Canelo’s potential options, but it makes sense. If Canelo chooses not to face Benavidez in his last two fights on his PBC contract, he would have to face Jermall in May or September.
Since Canelo has picked Jermall for May, the logical choice for September is Jaime Munguia. WBC interim super middleweight champion David Benavidez will be so angry learning that Jermall has gotten the fight against Canelo on May 4th instead of him, given that he’s never fought at 168.
Charlo isn’t the greatest of match-ups for Canelo, but it’s an upgrade over his last two opponents from 2023, Jermell and John Ryder. It could be worse. In terms of actual ability, Jermall is more talented than Jaime Munguia, and he would likely beat him, even now at this career stage.
It’ll be interesting to see if Canelo has something else that he wants to reveal during his announcement today like the reports of him leaving PBC. Boxing expert Rick Glaser had reported that Canelo’s announcement would involve him telling his fans he’s leaving PBC. That doesn’t seem like it’s happening now that reports are out of him fighting Jermall.
