Jermell Charlo Unlikely To Return to 154 for Crawford & Tszyu Fights. In a surprising turn of events, unified WBA, WBC, and IBF junior middleweight champion Jermell Charlo has indicated that he is unlikely to return to the 154-pound weight division for potential mega-fights against pound-for-pound king Terence Crawford and rising star Tim Tszyu.
Charlo, who has established himself as one of the most dominant forces in the junior middleweight division, had previously hinted at the possibility of moving up to the middleweight class after unifying the belts at 154 pounds. Fans and pundits eagerly anticipated the potential matchups against welterweight sensation Terence Crawford and the undefeated Tim Tszyu, son of former world champion Kostya Tszyu.
However, it appears that Charlo has had a change of heart regarding his future plans in the sport. In an exclusive interview with Boxing Weekly, the 32-year-old fighter revealed his intentions to remain at middleweight.
“I’ve accomplished everything I wanted to achieve at 154 pounds,” Charlo stated during the interview. “Moving up to middleweight feels like the natural progression for my career. There are some exciting challenges and big names in the middleweight division that I’m eager to face.”
Charlo’s decision to stay at middleweight could potentially shift the landscape of boxing’s super welterweight division, leaving fans wondering who will rise to claim the vacant throne. Promoters and matchmakers will now need to reassess their plans and seek out suitable contenders to vie for the now-vacant junior middleweight titles.
On the other hand, this opens up intriguing possibilities at middleweight, where Charlo will seek to establish himself as a force to be reckoned with. The boxing community eagerly anticipates potential matchups against the likes of Gennady Golovkin, Demetrius Andrade, and a potential rematch with Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez, should the latter return to the middleweight division.
For Terence Crawford and Tim Tszyu, this news means they may have to pursue other avenues for big-name fights in their respective weight classes. Crawford, the WBO welterweight champion, may focus on unification bouts or consider a move up in weight himself, while Tszyu, undefeated at junior middleweight, could explore options to solidify his legacy in the division.
As fans digest this unexpected development, they can still look forward to a series of exciting matchups in the boxing world. While Jermell Charlo’s decision to remain at middleweight may disappoint some, it promises to usher in new rivalries and potential super-fights in the 160-pound weight class.
