Charlo names Fundora, Tszyu, and Spence despite three-year layoff and no recent win at 154
Jermell Charlo says he wants a title fight with Sebastian Fundora as he plans his return after three years out. The former undisputed champion also named Tim Tszyu and Errol Spence Jr. as agreed options, raising questions about his path back at 154.
“I’ll go the Fundora route because we’ve been in talks with Fundora, and I’m working on it with PBC,” said Charlo to Brian Custer’s channel.
He also claimed future options are already lined up with Tim Tszyu and Errol Spence Jr.
“We in talks with Tim Tszyu and Errol Spence. All of them three guys have agreed to fight me.”
That is ambitious language from a fighter who has not competed since losing to Canelo Alvarez in 2023. Charlo turns 36 on May 19, and many fans believe a long layoff should mean a tune-up or contender fight first, not an immediate shot at a champion. Charlo, however, made clear he still views himself as the division’s top man.
The problem is, Jermell is basically trying to cash a check from 2022 in a completely different economy. PBC PPV prices have climbed to $75+, and asking fans to shell that out for a guy who hasn’t won a fight since May 2022 is a tough ask. It’s a financial risk for the promoters.
Jermell is used to undisputed”money. If he demands a massive guaranteed purse to fight Fundora or Ennis, the math just doesn’t work for a promoter if the buy rate doesn’t break 150k or 200k.
In boxing, three years is an eternity. Since Jermell went quiet, we’ve seen the rise of Xander Zayas and the arrival of “Boots” Ennis at 154.
“I’ve been saying I’m coming back. I’ve been saying I want my straps,” said Charlo. “Nobody beat me for my belts.”
Promoters aren’t calling because Jermell is low-certainty right now. If a promoter puts him in a main event and he looks like the version of himself that showed up or didn’t show up against Canelo Alvarez, the event is a disaster. Financially, it may be a disaster anyway.
Jermell wants the reward of a champion without the tune-up tax that every other veteran has to pay after a long layoff. In a 2026 landscape filled with young, hungry, and active talent, thinking you can just cut to the front of the line because of what you did four years ago is definitely a bold choice.
If Jermell would just get active, beat some top contenders at 154 like Israil Madrimov, Bakhram Murtazaliev, or Brandon Adams, it would be less of an issue.