Jermall Charlo

All in the Family

 

Born in Lafayette, Louisiana, and raised in Houston, Jermall and his brother were introduced to the world of boxing at the age of 8 by their father, Kevin, a former amateur boxer. Seeking to provide them with a positive and disciplined environment, Kevin took them to the gym, igniting a passion that would shape their lives.

 

Despite dabbling in football and basketball during their high school years, the Charlo twins were drawn to boxing. While Jermell pursued a professional career in 2007, Jermall opted to remain in the amateur ranks with dreams of competing in the 2008 Olympics. Unfortunately, a toe injury dashed Jermall’s Olympic aspirations, forcing him to conclude his amateur career with an impressive record of 65 wins and 6 losses.

 

Professional Debut

 

In his professional debut on September 12, 2008, Jermall Charlo secured a second-round TKO victory over Cimarron Davis in Grand Prairie, Texas, close to his hometown of Houston. Initially overshadowed by his brother’s success, Jermall had limited exposure early in his career. He fought only once in both 2010 and 2011, accumulating a record of 12 wins and no losses with eight knockouts.

 

However, his opportunity to shine arrived in April 2013 when he faced the seasoned Mexican boxer Orlando Lora at the Alamodome in San Antonio. This bout took place on the undercard of the Austin Trout-Saul “Canelo” Alvarez pay-per-view event. Despite Lora’s significant experience, boasting a record of 29 wins, 3 losses, and 2 draws with 19 knockouts, Charlo controlled the fight and secured a fifth-round stoppage victory.

 

Buoyed by this success, Charlo continued his winning streak throughout 2013. He delivered impressive performances, including securing stoppage victories over Luis Hernandez, Antwone Smith, Rogelio De La Torre, and Joseph De Los Santos in June, August, September, and December respectively.

 

Hunt for the Title

 

Guided by trainer Ronnie Shields, Charlo maintained an undefeated record of 17 wins and no losses, positioning himself for a title opportunity. Initially slated to face 154-pound world champion Carlos Molina in a March 2014 title bout, the fight was canceled just days before the scheduled date.

 

Despite this setback, Charlo remained active in the ring. He secured a third-round stoppage victory over Hector Munoz in Carson, California, in April while awaiting another chance at a title shot. Continuing his determined pursuit, Charlo delivered a seventh-round TKO against Norberto Gonzalez in September, showcasing his skill and resilience.

 

Closing out the year 2014 with a bang, Charlo achieved a third-round knockout against Italian veteran Lenny Bottai in Las Vegas in December, extending his impressive streak to 14 consecutive stoppage wins.  Although his knockout streak concluded in March 2015, Charlo demonstrated his dominance by winning a unanimous decision over Michael Finney, with all three judges scoring in his favor. This victory set the stage for a title showdown against champion Cornelius Bundrage.

 

Continued Dominance

 

After a short break, Jermall displayed his knockout abilities once more in his subsequent match, achieving a third-round TKO victory to clinch the 154-pound title and overthrow Cornelius Bundrage on September 12, 2015—exactly seven years after his professional debut. Bundrage marked the first of five knockouts in six fights for Charlo, which included a fourth-round TKO triumph over previously unbeaten Wilky Campfort, who suffered his initial career loss in Charlo’s debut title defense on November 28.

 

In his second title defense, Charlo showcased his stamina and skill, securing a 12-round unanimous decision against former champion Austin Trout on May 21, 2016. This win was followed by an electrifying fifth-round knockout of the previously undefeated Julian “J-Rock” Williams in December of the same year.

 

Power and Precision

 

With two impressive knockouts, Charlo emerged as a significant threat to the undefeated 160-pound titleholder Gennady Golovkin, former champion Danny Jacobs, and former two-division title winner Canelo Alvarez. Charlo’s debut in the 160-pound division in July 2017 was marked by a fourth-round TKO victory over Argentina’s Jorge Sebastian Heiland, who had never been stopped in his career. This triumph was followed by a second-round left hook that sent Hugo Centeno Jr. to the canvas on April 21, 2018, at Barclays Center.

 

On December 22, 2018, Charlo faced the tricky southpaw Matt Korobov at Barclays Center. Despite Korobov being a late substitute and Charlo’s limited preparation time, Charlo gradually asserted control, culminating in a dominant performance in the twelfth round, where he repeatedly rocked Korobov to secure a 12-round unanimous decision victory.

 

In his bout against Brandon Adams on June 29, 2019, Charlo demonstrated his full championship prowess after being elevated from interim to full WBC champion days before the fight. Despite Adams’ resilience and determination, Charlo’s superior skill, willpower, and tenacity led to a decisive victory by unanimous decision.

 

Returning to Brooklyn’s Barclays Center on December 7, Charlo faced top-ranked challenger Dennis Hogan. Despite Hogan’s commendable performance against Jaime Munguia, Charlo showcased his dominance, dropping Hogan in the fourth round and ultimately forcing the referee to stop the fight in the seventh round with a perfectly timed left hook at 0:28 of the frame.

 

Tough Challenges

 

On September 26, 2020, Charlo faced off against his top-ranked contender, Sergiy Derevyanchenko. It was a highly anticipated bout, expected by many to be the toughest challenge of Charlo’s career. Charlo and Derevyanchenko engaged in a grueling 12-round battle, showcasing their skills and determination. Derevyanchenko pushed Charlo to his limits, landing several impactful shots and testing Charlo’s resilience.

 

However, Charlo proved himself to be the superior fighter. Utilizing his size advantage, sharp jab, and powerful punches, Charlo managed to rock Derevyanchenko multiple times throughout the fight, ultimately securing a unanimous decision victory. The judges’ scorecards reflected Charlo’s dominance, with final scores reading 118-110, 117-111, and 116-112.

 

Welcome Home

 

On June 19, 2021, Charlo made his triumphant return to his hometown to face the formidable Juan Montiel in a highly-anticipated bout at the Toyota Center. With a record of 32-0 and 22 knockouts, Charlo showcased his dominance, securing a unanimous decision victory with scorecards of 118-109, 119-109, and 120-108 to successfully defend his WBC title against Montiel, whose record stood at 22-5-2 with 22 knockouts.

 

Despite the tough competition, Charlo remained composed and focused on making necessary adjustments throughout the fight. Looking ahead, Charlo emphasized his ambitions in the middleweight division, expressing his desire to unify titles and bring esteemed fighters like Gennadiy Golovkin and Canelo Alvarez to his hometown of Houston.

 

Return to the Ring

 

Following a hiatus of nearly 30 months due to injuries and struggles with mental health, Charlo returned to the ring on November 25, 2023, facing off against Jose Benavidez Jr. The match served as the co-main event during the David Benavidez-Demetrius Andrade SHOWTIME Pay-Per-View at the Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

 

The verbal sparring between the two fighters translated into an intense showdown in the ring, where both unleashed their punches with fierce determination. Charlo displayed control throughout the bout, delivering a spirited and dominant performance against the resilient Benavídez in their 10-round non-title fight. Utilizing his sharp jab and powerful right hands, Charlo dictated the pace of the fight, maneuvering Benavídez around the ring. The judges scored the bout decisively in Charlo’s favor, with scores of 100-90, 99-91, and 98-92. Charlo’s impressive statistics included landing 116 of 334 jabs, achieving a 35% connect-rate, and landing 127 of 279 power punches at a 46% clip.