Jermell Charlo will jump up two weight classes to face Saul ‘Canelo’ Álvarez – and Shawn Porter believes one has only a puncher’s chance.
Canelo made headlines when he penned a deal with Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions, ending a stint with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom and opening him up to some intriguing contests.
The first was expected to be current middleweight champion, Jermall Charlo, but fans were surprised to see Jermell announced as the man to challenge the Mexican.
This Charlo twin is currently undisputed at super welterweight and was last out in May of 2022. Speaking to Boxing Social, Porter said that the size difference wasn’t as much of a factor as people thought.
“Once you move past the size, because I think that’s where everyone thinks is a point blank answer that Canelo’s gonna win this fight.”
“Let’s look at the facts, we all lose weight to get to our weight class, which means Charlo’s losing weight to get to 154. He’s not a natural 154 pounder fighter, he’s probably more of a natural 160 if not a natural 168. So let’s put that out there on the record that this is an even fight.”
With that said, the two-time champion made his pick for an even fight – and still can’t look past the skillset of Canelo.
“But, when you look at experience, when you look at the face that Canelo has been multi-dimensional throughout his career, you look at the fact that he has the work rate.
We’re looking at a right hand from Jermell Charlo, and if that right hand doesn’t land between rounds one and eight it probably won’t land at all, and Canelo will win this fight. I don’t see him losing to Charlo.”
Canelo will defend his four bets against Charlo on September 30 in Las Vegas in what will be the first of a three-fight deal with PBC and Showtime.