By the time Jermell Charlo steps into the ring to face Canelo Alvarez on Sept. 30 for a super middleweight matchup, he will have had over a 16-month layoff from his most recent fight.

Charlo became the undisputed super welterweight champion on May 14, 2022 when he scored a sensational stoppage win against Brian Castano. 

Charlo was preparing to face mandatory challenger Tim Tszyu on Jan. 28, but the previously announced fight was postponed due to a broken left hand suffered during training camp in December. 

Charlo (35-1-1, 19 KOs) quelled any concerns that his injury could prove to be problematic come fight night against the four-division titlist Alvarez (59-2-2, 39 KOs) in a battle between undisputed champions. 

“The hand is great. You don't have to worry about the hand. The hand is going to be great and it's going to be in action come September 30. The hand is good and it's going to be down and ready for the 30th,” Charlo said on Showtime. 

Charlo is looking to join Terence Crawford and Claressa Shields and become the third fighter in boxing history in the four-belt era to become an undisputed champion in two weight classes. 

“I made history before, so it feels good and I know that feeling, and that urge and that hunger to want to make history and do something that children talk about,” said Charlo. 

“That's the dream. It's beyond the dream because some people can barely get to undisputed. But I came to the point where I can become undisputed in two weight divisions. I have to seize that moment and opportunity. I'm going to train hard, work hard. I'm ready to go. I'm ready to rock and roll.” 

Charlo and Alvarez will headline a Showtime pay-per-view card in Las Vegas on Showtime in a yet-to-be-named venue. 

Manouk Akopyan is a sports journalist, writer, and broadcast reporter. He’s also a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and the MMA Journalists Association. He can be reached on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube at @ManoukAkopyan, through email at manouk[dot]akopyan[at]gmail.com, or via www.ManoukAkopyan.com.