No boxer has earned the right to call themselves the undisputed super welterweight champion of the world in the four-belt era of boxing. But that fact will change Saturday, July 17, if Jermell Charlo fights to victory against Brian Castano.
Jermall Charlo will enter the ring with a 34-1 record as a professional with 18 wins by knockout. He currently holds the WBA, WBC, and IBF championships.
Brian Castano is undefeated in 18 fights with one draw on his record. Castano became the WBO super welterweight champion in February when he scored a unanimous decision victory over Patrick Teixeira.
The Road to Undisputed
Jermell Charlo began his professional boxing career on December 8, 2007, with a unanimous decision victory against Corey Sommerville. He was able to wow fight fans from the beginning of his career but sometimes found it difficult to land the fights that would propel his career.
Jermell Charlo received his first chance at a world title eight and a half years after his first professional fight. He was 27-0 when he faced John Jackson for the vacant WBC title. Charlo scored an eight-round knockout to leave the ring as a champion.
Charlo successfully defended his title three times before suffering the first hiccup of his career against Tony Harrison in 2018. He admits the loss devastated him. But Charlo also says he learned valuable lessons he can use both in and outside the boxing ring. He is thankful for the experience and understands that it is a part of the process that has him now on the verge of making boxing history.
Charlo got the rematch he wanted with Harrison a year later. He avenged the only loss of his career by knocking out Harrison in the 11th round.
Jermell next fought Jeison Rosario in September of last year. Charlo picked up his second and third super welterweight belt via eighth-round knockout against the former unified champion. The victory over Rosario set up the current opportunity to become the undisputed champion of the 154-pound division.
Jermell Charlo-Brian Castano Fight Preparations
Jermell Charlo says he respects Brian Castano and knows he is a dangerous opponent. Charlo explains Castano possesses the skills to match any fighter in the division. The three-belt champion went on to say he always prepares for war inside the boxing ring, and this training camp is no different.
Charlo responded to a statement made by Castano. The Argentinian champion promised to make Charlo suffer in the fight. Charlo says he has suffered in his life already, and there is nothing Castano can do to add to his suffering. “It is not about what Brian Castano can say he can do to me,” Charlo explains. “We’ve seen what I can do to people.”
Jermell Charlo on Pound for Pound Lists
Jermell Charlo says it does not bother him much that many pound for pound lists continue to shun him. He says he knows he is already one of the top boxers in the game. Charlo explains he is only one of a group of boxers who deserve more respect from the media than they receive.
Charlo also questions the motives behind some of the lists produced by the media. “They can be judgemental or biased,” Charlo explains. “We don’t know who’s creating these lists.”
Future Boxing Plans
Jermell Charlo says he would take any fight that makes sense if he becomes the undisputed champion of his division on Saturday. He is open to moving up to 160 if good opportunities exist for him at a higher weight. Charlo acknowledged that his stablemate, Errol Spence has an eye on the 154 division. He says he would be willing to move aside for Spence if necessary.
Charlo made it clear that he may not continue boxing for very long. He is 31 years old now and appreciates the career course taken by Andre Ward. Jermell says Ward proved what he needed to prove to himself as a fighter. He says Ward cemented his legacy by defeating Kovalev and then moved on without looking back. Charlo can he can see himself taking a similar path soon.
The immediate future for Jermell Charlo is much clearer. A win on Saturday night and his name will stand alone on the list of four-belt undisputed super welterweight champions in boxing history.