Jermell Charlo next fight as undisputed: Tszyu, Fundora, more options

Jermell Charlo grew to become undisputed champion at 154 lbs final night time, beating Brian Castano in a fantastic rematch via 10th round stoppage to unify all four major titles in the junior middleweight division, the primary males’s fighter to go undisputed in that division within the four-belt period.

Charlo (35-1-1, 19 KO) has been at 154 since formally settling on the weight in 2011, after turning professional in 2007 as a welterweight. He nonetheless makes weight handily — he was reduce and notably underneath the restrict at Friday’s weigh-in — and doesn’t have issues with it on combat night time.

He gained his first world title within the division in 2016, coming from behind on the playing cards to knock out John Jackson and win the vacant WBC title. He controversially misplaced that belt to Tony Harrison in 2018, received it again in 2019, and added the WBA and IBF belts when he knocked out Jeison Rosario in 2020.

10 months in the past, he and Castano tried to crown an undisputed champ. They went to a attract a extremely good combat. Final night time, Charlo received the higher of it, placing a stamp on what was in all probability a career-best efficiency towards a rival of actual substance, and achieved the dream.

The junior middleweight division has been thrilling and aggressive for some years now, low-key much more entertaining than the extra glorified welterweight scene, at the very least for my part. One of the best fighters have fought each other. We’ve seen nice fights, upsets, shock champions, and now, an unquestioned king has emerged from all of it.

You’d assume there won’t be quite a bit left for Charlo. He’s crushed Castano convincingly, and lots of the others who’ve been contenders have fallen by the wayside.

You’d be flawed, although. It’s a division that has two notable rising stars who each could possibly be a menace to Charlo’s crown.

Tim Tszyu

Australia’s Tszyu (21-0, 15 KO) is a second-generation star, the son of former 140 lb king Kostya Tszyu, and has made his means up the ladder within the final couple of years. He’s fought constantly in his residence nation, staying busy even when he didn’t have the very best out there opponents for the time being, particularly via COVID journey restrictions and all that, plugging away and holding himself prepared, and his identify circulating.

In March, Tszyu made his U.S. debut, coming off the canvas in the first round to beat former Olympian Terrell Gausha over 12 rounds. The judges had that combat nearer than most observers did, however Tszyu gained the combat and deserved it.

At 27, Tszyu says he’s prepared. He was in attendance final night time in California, and made clear once more that he’s prepared. And it’s appeared like Tim actually wished to combat Charlo greater than anybody else, with due respect to Castano. Charlo has the larger star identify, he’s received the larger U.S. fan base for certain, and now that he’s the clear prime canine at 154, he’s the man to beat. Tszyu desires to beat The Man.

Tszyu has been necessary challenger for a while with the WBO, and was pushed to the again burner to permit the Charlo-Castano fights to occur, which is definitely a good ruling; we’re speaking a couple of full undisputed combat right here, not just a few huge identify pushing apart a compulsory challenger as a result of it’s value more cash.

He’s adamant that he desires his shot subsequent, and given how lengthy he’s waited, the WBO ought to in all probability get first dibs right here. Add in the truth that Charlo vs Tszyu is an attention-grabbing combat that ought to usher in cash in each the U.S. and Australia, and it’s type of a no brainer combat to make, a longtime prime canine towards an up-and-coming star with a final identify meaning one thing within the sport, and has confirmed himself to be at the very least a bit greater than simply that.

However that additionally doesn’t imply Tszyu is the one actually good choice.

Sebastian Fundora

Fundora (19-0-1, 13 KO) is, within the nicest means, a freak of nature, a 6’6” or so junior middleweight southpaw who can combat on the surface and at distance, has energy, could be hit — all in all, Fundora when in towards a problem is thrilling.

We noticed that final day out, when he stopped Erickson Lubin in nine rounds on Apr. 9, profitable the WBC interim title, which suggests he’s the highest contender with that sanctioning physique.

Charlo observed that win. In a latest interview, he talked about Fundora not by identify, however as “that tall lanky motherfucker” — like many prime fighters will, Charlo might even see Fundora as somebody open to being spectacularly knocked out. However individuals hold making an attempt that and never doing it, too.

Fundora, 24, could possibly be a stylistic nightmare for anybody at this weight, or at 160, or at 168, relying on how his physique fills out transferring up in weight. He has the peak and attain of a heavyweight (he’ll by no means have that form of body and I’m not suggesting he’ll), and he’s comfy with nearly any model of combat. Plus, after some nights the place we’ve seen him have some struggles — towards Jamontay Clark in 2019, or Sergio Garcia in 2021 — he has realized and are available again higher from there.

Similar to Charlo vs Tszyu, a Charlo combat towards Fundora is a pure one to make that lots of people wish to see. It’s harmful on paper, a official contender who has executed what has been requested of him.

Different choices

So Tszyu is the highest challenger with the WBO and Fundora with the WBC. However Charlo now has two different belts, too.

The IBF’s necessary challenger is Bakhram Murtazaliev (20-0, 15 KO), a 29-year-old Russian who has no enterprise being ranked as a No. 1 contender with any sanctioning physique. Murtazaliev has expertise on the attention check, however he hasn’t crushed anybody even near correct contender standing.

Murtazaliev has been on PBC exhibits in his latest fights and is on their radar, however there’s no one banging down the door demanding this, both. Murtazaliev’s document is so skinny that BoxRec have him ranked No. 59 on the earth for the time being, or 41 spots behind Sam Eggington. I’m not saying Eggington would beat Murtazaliev, I’m saying Murtazaliev hasn’t crushed anybody of great be aware but.

The IBF ordered Charlo vs Murtazaliev in the summertime of 2021, only a few days after the primary Charlo-Castano combat, however clearly PBC have a deal with on that scenario, nevertheless you wish to take that.

With the WBA, Israil Madrimov (8-0, 6 KO) is the No. 1 contender, profitable a controversial TKO over Michel Soro in December. However the WBA ordered a rematch between those two in March, so Madrimov doesn’t have a compulsory declare or something.

Apart from the sanctioning physique orders, 154 is proficient however has no potential fights that soar out as one thing that must be made or must be made. I’m as huge a Liam Smith fan as you’ll discover outdoors of Liverpool, however I don’t assume anybody is demanding Charlo vs Smith.

Terence Crawford?

Even when Terence Crawford does ultimately transfer as much as 154 lbs and are available after Charlo, as he’s said he wants to do, it gained’t be subsequent. Crawford and Errol Spence Jr are each as near demanding their very own undisputed combat at 147 as they’ve ever been, and there’s actually nothing blocking that much-desired combat from occurring anymore.

If Crawford beat Spence, then yeah, going as much as 154 could also be on the desk. However extra seemingly than not that’s one thing for the center of 2023 on the earliest, perhaps a yr from now.

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