Last month, Jermall Charlo (26-0, 20 KOs) made his debut in the middleweight division at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
He blew away Jorge Sebastian Heiland, scoring two knockdowns before the contest was stopped in the fourth round of a WBC final eliminator. It was the 18th stoppage win for Charlo in his last 20 fights.
Charlo is now in line to fight for the WBC world title. The belt is current hold by Gennady "GGG" Golovkin (37-0, 33 KOs), who next month will square up with Mexican superstar Saul "Canelo" Alvarez (49-1-1, 34 KOs).
Next month's fight will be tricky, so Charlo will have to wait and see how the situation plays out.
Canelo has refused to fight for the WBC world title. If Golovkin wins, he will have to face Charlo in a mandatory defense. If Canelo wins, the belt will become vacant and then Charlo will face the highest ranked, available contender for the belt.
“I'm ready for anyone. I'm ready for whoever wants to fight me,” Charlo said to Premier Boxing Champions. “Bring on the biggest names at 160. I'm the real Tommy Hearns. I feel it's my turn and I'm going to go get it.
“It’s a statement not just to Canelo and Triple G, but the whole division. I’m a young, hungry lion hunting down the best in the world. They can’t dodge me because I’ll chase and chase until I clean out the division. If Billy Joe Saunders or Willie Monroe are at the top of their game, I’ll go get them. None of them can beat me. I’m bigger, stronger, faster and here to fight anybody they say is the best.”
Charlo's head trainer, Ronnie Shields, is very confident that his boxer will beat either guy - Canelo or Golovkin.
“Jermall’s long body helps to generate power like Tommy Hearns in his killer right hand, over the top or underneath,” Shields said. “We’re the mandatory, so we’ll wait and see, but I’m confident that Jermall beats Canelo or Triple G.”
