Jermall Charlo looks set to win the ‘Canelo’ sweepstakes and land a big money fight with the Mexican, with talks between the two camps reportedly at an advanced stage.
There are arguably few better placed to predict a match up between Alvarez and Charlo than Austin Trout – the only man to take on both.
And in a recent interview with FightHype, Trout revealed he was backing Charlo to dethrone the undisputed super middleweight king, however conceded that inactivity could play a factor.
“I’m pulling for Charlo. I think Charlo had everything it takes to beat Canelo, but we ain’t seen him in two years. That’s the only reasoning I’m questioning it, if this was two years ago I’m picking Charlo. The only question is his inactivity.
Canelo hasn’t been looking great, he’s not the same as he was before. But he’s been active, he’s been training and he’s been busy. I’m not saying Charlo hasn’t been training, but he ain’t been fighting.
It’s going to be in Charlo’s hometown, which will probably give him a bit more ambition to win. The only thing I’m looking at which is not good for Charlo, is his inactivity.”
Charlo has been inactive since a 2021 decision win over Juan Macias Montiel, with WBC President, Mauricio Sulaiman, saying that his ring absence was mental health related.
It seems only a matter of time before the contest is finalised, after it was announced this week that Canelo has signed a three fight promotional deal with PBC.
The four weight world champion had worked with Eddie Hearn and DAZN for the majority of his recent fights up until that stage, but Hearn will now have to prepare for life without his stateside cash cow, for the time being at least.