With Jermell Charlo moving up two weight divisions to take on undisputed super middleweight champion Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez on September 20th, it’s no surprise that talk of pounds and ounces has dominated much of the early fight build up.
Alvarez himself is an expert in maintaining success whilst moving up the weights, having won world titles from from light middleweight all the way up to light heavyweight, and is physically unrecognisable to the fighter he was in his early career.
Charlo’s coach Derrick James has revealed, however, that he does not want his charge packing on mass for the fight as he wants him to maintain his speed and athleticism.
Speaking to FightHub TV, James even stated he does not envisage Charlo reaching the super middleweight limit of 168lbs on weigh in day.
“I don’t believe in getting that heavy, I’ll say 63 or 64.”
“I want him to be fast, I want him to be athletic, I want him to be mobile. The heavier you are it’s like you’ll be lethargic, slower. You have to be faster.”
Despite the current gap in weight classes between them, Canelo and Charlo campaigned at 154lbs at the same time and there is a view amongst some observers that the size differential may not be as significant as it would appear on the surface.
Couple that with the fact many in the sport believe the Mexican is a fighter on the decline, it would be foolish to completely write off the chances of Charlo at the T-Mobile Arena this autumn.
Should ‘Iron Man’ spring the upset in Las Vegas and be crowned undisputed in a second weight class, he would have a real shout for pound for pound number one status.