Hall of famer Bernard Hopkins has issued a word of warning to Jermell Charlo ahead of his monster fight against Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez on September 30.
Charlo will jump up two weight divisions to challenge for Alvarez’ undisputed super middleweight crown, a match-up that Hopkins has previously stated he fancies the American’s chances of pulling off the upset in.
However, in a recent interview with Little Giant Boxing, ‘B-Hop’ explained why the undisputed super welterweight champion can ill afford “trying to be brave” at the T-Mobile Arena.
“If Jermell fights to prove something, it won’t be a good night for him. But if he puts on a show and fights like he belongs, these are the steps in twelve round fights. You’ve got to have different chapters in fights like this.”
“Any other fight, I wouldn’t speak like this. But this type of match up against, not only the bigger guy, but the bigger guy who can still fight and has all the accolades that he has four or five years ago.”
“If he comes into this fight trying to be brave and trying to be tough, Canelo is going to accommodate him very well – look at everybody else who fought him.”
Despite the fact Charlo is significantly taller than Alvarez, the Mexican is expected to be a good deal heavier by the time the pair are in the ring.
It is Canelo’s first outing of a three fight deal with Al Haymon’s PBC, with match-ups against the likes of David Benavidez, Demetrius Andrade and even Terence Crawford potentially waiting down the line should he retain his four 168lbs world titles.