Jermall Charlo and Jose Benavidez Jr. concluded their virtual press conference yesterday in preparation for their undercard fight scheduled for November 25th. While the press conference was noteworthy due to the heated exchanges between both fighters, it also unveiled some unsettling information concerning Jermall Charlo’s WBC middleweight title.
Despite Jermall Charlo’s (32-0, 22 KO’s) two-year absence from the ring, he has not been stripped of his title. This trend appears to continue as it was revealed that Charlo’s upcoming fight with Jose Benavidez Jr. (28-2-1, 19 KO’s) would not include his WBC middleweight world title since they would be competing at 163 lbs.
During the press conference, host Brian Custer inquired about the fight’s weight class – information that should have been made public earlier. Jose Benavidez supplied the answer, stating, “It’s at 163 (lbs) because this guy (Jermall Charlo) had to make up excuses that he couldn’t make the weight.” Benavidez’s revelation was surprising, considering Charlo’s prolonged hold on the WBC title without defending it.
This development is striking because Charlo had already confirmed the fight with Benavidez about a month before, providing ample time to prepare. Charlo had initially stated, “I’m thanking God for this second chance, an extra opportunity to show my greatness. Training camp has been awesome; I’ve been training for a while now, and I’m ready to go beat Jose Benavidez.”
However, his subsequent statements contradicted his earlier claims, leading to confusion about his actual training schedule.
“Nah, I haven’t started training camp. I’mma start camp a week before the fight or something like that,” Charlo said, bringing confusion as he had said that he would be entering training camp the day after the press conference held on November 7th.
“So I don’t got to be worried about nothing. I’m just going to straight up fight him, straight up fight him like a man.“
Moreover, Charlo’s apparent unprofessionalism has raised questions about his ability to compete at a professional level. His conflicting statements during the press conference indicate a lack of preparation or potentially even mental health issues. Despite these concerns, the WBC has not taken action to strip Charlo of his title or address his ability to compete.
The issue at hand extends beyond Charlo himself; it reflects poorly on the WBC, which has allowed him to retain his title without defending it. The recent press conference should have prompted the WBC to take action. The lack of a coherent and professional response from Charlo only raises more doubts about his suitability to fight.
Then there’s the matter of him fighting at a catchweight of 163 lbs without repercussions or risks, all while Benavidez himself has never even fought at 160 lbs, much less 163 lbs.
As the fight date approaches, there is no indication from the WBC about the consequences if Jose Benavidez wins, and Charlo will likely still be holding onto his WBC title if he loses. This situation showcases the WBC’s favoritism and raises questions about their credibility in the sport. Continuing the controversy surrounding Charlo’s champion status damages the reputation of both the fighter and the sanctioning body, highlighting the need for clear and consistent regulations in professional boxing.
