Two-weight world champion, Tim Bradley, has labelled one of this year’s hottest events a mismatch, as Jermell Charlo prepares to step up two weight-divisions to take on Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez for the undisputed super-middleweight crown.
Canelo was linked to a clash with Jermall Charlo, brother of ‘Mell’ and the WBC middleweight champion, but instead it’s the smaller twin who will step up to 168lbs.
Nevertheless, a strong performance against Brian Castano crowned ‘Iron Man’ as the undisputed 154lbs champion and has convinced some fans and fighters that he could have what it takes to pull off the upset against Canelo, who has under delivered in his last three fights.
However, Bradley, former super-lightweight and welterweight champion, disregarded any chance of Charlo getting his hand raised, labelling the bout as a complete mismatch in an interview with Fight Hype.
“That’s a mismatch. How the hell are you going to go up two weight-classes, come on bro. You are going to go up two weight-classes when you have been hurt by guys at 154lbs, you think you are going to be able to take a punch from a bigger guy? Y’all tripping.”
“He [Canelo] has fought at 175lbs, understand that, against big huge dude, [Sergey] Kovalev! Freakin’ monster and he knocked him out. Canelo was able to take his punches, you don’t think Canelo is going to take a Charlo, 154lb punch? This [fight] is terrible.”
Regardless of Bradley’s thoughts, the pair will meet on September 30 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and broadcast on Showtime PPV in the US. There is yet to be an official UK broadcaster confirmed for the event.