Ronnie Shields, header trainer for top middleweight contender Jermall Charlo (26-0, 20 KOs), is confident that his boxer can beat any of the tops names at 160-pounds.
Two weeks ago, a deal was announced for Charlo's next fight - when he takes on once-beaten contender Hugo Centeno Jr. (26-1, 14 KOs) in a mandatory fight on March 3rd at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
The World Boxing Council ordered the two boxers to face each other for the WBC's Interim middleweight world championship.
Charlo vs Centeno will be the Showtime televised co-feature to the heavyweight showdown between WBC world champion Deontay Wilder (39-0, 38 KOs) and unbeaten challenger Luis Ortiz (28-0, 24 KOs).
And the winner of the middleweight clash will be in line for a mandatory fight with WBC champion Gennady Golovkin, who stakes that belt on May 5th, against Saul "Canelo" Alvarez in a rematch.
According to Shields, Charlo will be looking to make a real statement against Centeno.
"Jermall looks great in training camp and we expect him to be at his best come March 3. He's motivated to put on a good show and prove to everyone he's a force in this division," Shields said.
"Hugo Centeno is a quality fighter. He's well-trained and has length, so Jermall knows he has to be prepared. Centeno isn't going to let him win, Jermall is going to have to go in and impose his will on the man."
There are a lot of top names at middleweight, including Golovkin, Billy Joe Saunders, Canelo, Daniel Jacobs and Demetrius Andrade.
Shields is confident that his boxer can beat any of those names.
"I believe Jermall has the talent and determination to beat any of the top middleweights out there. We're going to keep working every day so that when the time comes for one of those fights with a Golovkin or Canelo, he'll be prepared to take advantage of the opportunity," Shields said.