By Ryan Burton

Earlier this week the WBC officially ordered an interim middleweight bout that would pit former super welterweight champion Jermall Charlo (26-0) against middleweight contender Hugo Centeno (26-1).

Both fighters are advised by Al Haymon so it wouldn't seem like it would be too difficult for an agreement to be reached.

The interim title fight was ordered because the WBC middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin appears headed towards a May 5th rematch against Canelo Alvarez. 

Golovkin and Canelo battled to a draw in their September showdown which prompted the WBC to order an immediate rematch.

"It might happen. Right now it is just talks and ideas being thrown out but we will see.  I have been in the gym staying busy. I have been sparring. The time is now to take on anyone," Centeno told BoxingScene.com a couple weeks before the WBC's announcement.

"Like I said, the time is now and I ready now for anybody and if that happens then let's do it," he continued.

Centeno has picked up two wins in a row since being stopped by Maciej Sulecki in June, 2016. Charlo has a lot of momentum after defeating the likes of Austin Trout and Julian Williams but Centeno is very confident and believes that these are the types of fights that boxing needs.

"He is a great fighter and I believe this is the era where the best should be fighting the best and that is what I am about - fighting the best. I believe someone can't call them self the best without fighting the best and he is (ranked) #1 and I am #5 at the moment," explained Centeno.

Charlo vacated his title after his December 10th, 2016 knockout victory over Julian Williams.  He tested the waters in the middleweight division in his next fight when he stopped Jorge Heiland in four rounds this past June.

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