Undefeated WBC middleweight champion Jermall Charlo 32-0 (19) will look to ease himself back into the ring after almost two-and-a-half years on the sidelines when he faces Jose Benavidez Jr 28-2-1 (19) in a 10-round 163-poiund catchweight bout at Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on November 25.
The bout will take place on the undercard of the fight between David ‘El Bandera Roja’ Benavidez 27-0 (23) and Demetrius ‘Boo Boo’ Andrade 32-0 (19) and will be broadcast on Showtime pay-per-view.
The 33-year-old Charlo from Houston, Texas has not boxed since his 12-round shutout of Juan Macias Montiel in June 2021. He has not fought since then due to undisclosed personal issues but they have been significant enough for the WBC to allow him to remain their 160-pound champion.
“I’m thankful for this second chance to show my greatness,” Charlo said. “Training camp has been awesome and I’m ready to go. Benavidez is a great fighter and I really don’t have anything bad to say about him. He’s gonna see what it’s about when he’s in there. He can keep running his mouth, because he’s gonna find out.
“My mental abilities have caught up with my physical abilities, so you’re gonna see the best of me. I’m naturally stronger and I’ve really been working on my twitch and my speed. I’ve sparred strong guys, so I should be at the top of my game. I’m ready to blow this dude out.
“I won’t be rusty at all. There’s no excuses in this fight. I hope Benavidez isn’t thinking that I’m gonna be rusty. Because I’ve been working. You’ll see.
“You’re all talk. You ain’t nothing. This is my first step toward potentially fighting at 168 pounds and fighting his brother. This guy here has got little man syndrome. He’s gonna see when he starts eating right hands and jabs.
“He loses at the top level. He’s not his brother. He keeps trying to be his brother, but he’s not that. I respect his brother. I’m not worried about Jose. I’m gonna straight up fight him like a man.
“I’m gonna stand in the pocket and fight you. So you better not run. Come to me. Don’t try to do that awkward southpaw stuff. You’re not like that and you’re not ready for me.
“I’m not sweating him at all. I’m not one of those fighters who’s gonna let you choke me at the weigh-in or anything like that. We’re gonna beat up his whole town.”
The 31-year-old Benavidez from Phoenix, Arizona has a record of 1-2-1 going back five years with his two losses coming against Terence Crawford by 12th round knockout at welterweight in 2018 and by majority decision to Danny Garcia at junior middleweight in July last year.
His last bout was was a fifth-round knockout victory over journeyman Sladan Janjanin in August at the middleweight limit.
“I felt good in my last fight stepping up in weight,” Benavidez said. “It’s good to be active and it’s got me feeling very strong going into this fight.”
