Charlo Slams The WBO, Juan Manuel Marquez’s 50th Birthday And More
Jermell Charlo has been left angered by the WBO’s decision to strip him of his junior middleweight belt.
The American will lose his belt once his fight with Canelo Alvarez on September 30th, 2023, begins as Charlo attempts to become undisputed at a second weight class at 168.
However, the decision to strip him comes in light of his failure to fight his mandatory, Tim Tszyu, at 154. The Australian had been mandatory for over a year, as a fight was meant to go ahead in January.
However, Charlo pulled out due to a hand injury. But rather than reschedule the fight, Charlo chose to face Canelo instead.
As a result, Tszyu will be elevated to the status of a full champion. That has not gone down well with Charlo, who demanded that the media get behind his desire to get the belt back.
Charlo On The WBO
“Y’all write the WBO and tell them give me belt back and don’t touch it. Tell them don’t touch my belt. It only makes sense for me to fight and win and have eight belts active,” Charlo said
Away From Charlo
One man who has already achieved legendary status has been none other than Juan Manuel Marquez.
The former four-division champion celebrated his 50th birthday on August 23rd, 2023. The boxer is one of Mexico’s greatest fighters, having made a name for himself with those four fights against Manny Pacquiao.
And it was in their final bout that Marquez knocked out Pacquiao to shock the world. In the aftermath of the biggest win of his career, Marquez was elated at what he had just achieved.
“I fought on the inside sometimes but with a lot of intelligence. This was one of my best victories. I did it for me and I did it for Mexico. It would make me so happy to be there now, celebrating with my countrymen in Mexico City, but I will get there soon. Better late than never, eh?
“I never thought he was going to beat me, even though I feared the knockout when he came at me in those final three rounds. I was coming on strong, though. When he dropped me, he caught me good, but I was thinking I was going to push hard in the later rounds,” Marquez said
He ended his career with 56 wins, seven losses and one draw in a career where he won seven world titles across four weight classes. He retired in 2014 following his unanimous-decision win over Mike Alvarado in 2014.
Jared Anderson’s Future
In contrast, the up and coming heavyweight star Jared Anderson will face Andriy Rudenko on August 26th, 2023, from the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Oklahoma.
The 23-year-old heavyweight will make a quick turnaround having fought the former IBF world champion Charles Martin on July 1st, 2023.
Anderson went the distance for the first time in his career, showing the boxing community that he was capable of putting in the rounds.
Meanwhile, Rudenko is entering into the latter parts of his career. The 39-year-old has faced some big names over the years including Alexander Povetkin and Zhilei Zhang.
However, the Ukrainian will be making his American debut having last fought in 2021 when he lost to Vladyslav Sirenko via sixth-round TKO.
Reaction
“I want to stay active and make my case that I am the present and future of the heavyweight division. Rudenko is a tough, durable veteran. I respect what he’s accomplished in the game, but on August 26 at Hard Rock Tulsa, he’s going to regret accepting this challenge,” Anderson
“This is a tremendous opportunity, and I am coming to Tulsa to score the big upset. I dedicate this fight to the people of Ukraine, and I can’t wait to show everyone that I still have what it takes to perform at the highest level,” Rudenko
Full Card
Jared Anderson vs. Andriy Rudenko; Heavyweight
Efe Ajagba vs. Zhan Kossobutskiy; Heavyweight
Bakhodir Jalolov vs. Onoriode Ehwarieme; Heavyweight
Charly Suarez vs. Yohan Vasquez; Super-featherweight
Nico Ali Walsh vs. Sona Akale; Middleweight
Bruce Carrington vs. Angel Contreras; Featherweight
Jeremiah Milton vs. Craig Lewis; Heavyweight
Ablaikhan Zhussupov vs. Wiston Campos; Welterweight
Abdullah Mason vs. Cesar Villarraga; Lightweight
Charlo And Anderson’s Future
With the two fighters at the different stages of their career, can they become all-time greats like Marquez had done. Their next few fights will determine that, which is what separates the good from the great. Time will tell how it all plays out moving forward.
