Saul ‘Canelo’ Álvarez holds a deep motivation to fight and beat Jermell Charlo that goes back almost a decade.
The undisputed super-middleweight champion will welcome Charlo – who has all the belts at super-welterweight – up two divisions for their Las Vegas fight come September 30.
Many fans were shocked when the match-up was announced, especially considering there were strong rumours that it was Charlo’s middleweight twin brother, Jermall, who would be in the opposite corner from the Mexican.
Canelo has now revealed to PBC that it is the ‘perfect time’ for a fight he has been fantasising about for some years.
“I think it’s the perfect fight right now. He’s undisputed in his weight class, I’m undisputed [in mine.] He’s calling me out for a long time. And I hear he’s talking a lot of things [for a long time] and I never forget. Canelo’s going down, Canelo can’t do this, Canelo can’t do that. He never believed in my skills. But guess what? He’s gonna find out soon.”
“I’m very excited for this fight because he and his brother never believe in my skills, and that’s one of the things that motivates me … It’s almost here.”
“I never say anything, but I never forget. I always see everything. I know they always talk about me.”
Charlo’s desire for the match-up can be traced as far back as 2014, a resurfaced tweet showing that he was ‘promised’ the fight by promoter Oscar De La Hoya.
Listen idk if @OscarDeLaHoya lying or not, but in 2014 he promised me or @KingGabRosado the winner get @Canelo.. I Won, but he ended up fighting Kirkland, @OscarDeLaHoya Gotta sick again, HOW DO U GO AGAINST YOUR OWN COUNTRYMAN? viva Mexico !!!
— JERMELL CHARLO (@TwinCharlo) June 2, 2021
Having said that, there are more receipts from not so long ago that show Charlo feels he has the beating of the pound-for-pound star at his current weight
He was in attendance for Canelo’s undisputed fight with Caleb Plant, and can be heard in footage telling his brother that he ‘could beat him.’
Alvarez has taken note of all the comments, and is determined to prove them wrong this month. As for Charlo, he’s aiming to silence his own doubters.
