Undisputed light middleweight boxing champion Jermell Charlo worked hard to get where he is right now, practically cleaning out the 154-pound division.
The 33-year-old racked up vicious wins over opponents such as Tony Harrison, Jeison Rosario, and Brian Castano. Only one man is left for him to face, which is Tim Tszyu.
Both fighters were originally slated to clash in January 2023, Charlo's first title defense. Unfortunately, this never happened after "Iron Man" sustained an injury during sparring.
With reports coming out that Charlo will be facing Canelo Alvarez in September instead of Tszyu, the WBO issued an official statement on the matter and planned to reportedly strip the 33-year-old Texan of the title.
Unhappy Charlo
Charlo is unsurprisingly not happy about the decision, leading to him telling reporters to try and reach out to the WBO to possibly reconsider this alleged move, Boxing Scene reported.
"Y'all write the WBO and tell them give me belt back and don't touch it. Tell them don't touch my belt," Charlo stated.
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This holds no promise, and it seems apparent that the American pug will need to accept that he will be stripped of the WBO title he has held since 2022.
Rather than sulk, it may be in the best interest of Jermell Charlo to focus on Alvarez. It is expected to be a tough outing for the undisputed light middleweight champion, although coming out victorious will be rewarding.
Before the WBO came about, a potential Charlo win over Alvarez would have made him just the third fighter in history to become the undisputed champion in two separate weight classes.
But going beyond that and having proven his grit in the lightweight division, defeating Alvarez would instantly elevate him as the new "Face of Boxing."
It will be a tall order for the 33-year-old who prefers to convincingly win over Alvarez. He doesn't want to rely on the judges to win, although critics feel that winning via decision is the only chance he may have.
Should he be able to pull off the impossible, the rewards are great for "Iron Man."
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