On May 14 in Carson (USA), American Jermell Charlo (35-1-1, 19 KOs) beat Argentinean Brian Castaño (17-1-2, 12 KOs), became the absolute champion of the first middleweight and entered the top ten P4P rating. Now the fighter needs to decide what to do next – to rise a division higher or to hold several mandatory belt defenses in a row.
The fight with Charlo is already awaited by Russian Bahram Murtazaliev (IBF), Australian Tim Tszyu (WBO) and American Sebastian Fundora (WBC). Most fans and experts believe that the most dangerous challenge is a fight with the son of the legendary Konstantin Tszyu.
disagree with them conqueror of three divisions and current commentator Showtime channel Abner Mares and columnist Sports Illustrated Chris Mannix.
Mares: I think first Charlo needs to make 1-2 title defenses, and only then he can move to middleweights…
Mannix: If I were him, I wouldn’t want to fight Fundora. I don’t understand how this guy does 69.9 kg. How the hell is this even possible? Just recently, the fight was held by Gilberto Ramirez. The dude made a limit of 79.4 kg, and during the fight he already weighed 92.5 kg. Charlo will not be easy with the two-meter Fundora. I’m even afraid to imagine with what weight he will enter the ring …
Mares: He is definitely the one to avoid. And not only for the reason that it will weigh much more. But do not forget that the kid knows how to fight cool, throws a lot of punches. Yes, he is not a techie, he does not use his anthropometry, but fights in infighting. Remember what Terence Crawford said about him? That Fundora is like a cheat code in a computer game. You enter the code and you have a dude who should compete in a different weight. Fundora will make the most of his superiority as long as he can make the limit of this weight.
Mannix: I thought Paul Williams was too big for a welterweight. So it was. But Fundora looks even more impressive against the background of the first average. And with every fight he looks better and better. His power is getting bigger. Remember what he did to Erickson Lubin’s face. This is the best answer to the question about his real power.
Mares: Yes, I would suggest less dangerous fights to Charlo. For example, against Tszyu. No, this is not disrespectful to Tim and his team. But I just feel like he’s a little less of a threat compared to Fundora. Tim is a great fighter, but when compared to Fundora, Tim is more stylistically comfortable for Charlo. After all, Sebastian has a tonnage of punches, and height, and arm span. For example, I had a very high opinion of Lubin. But styles make fights. And Fundora’s anthropometry solved everything. Tszyu also has a name. So it’s a great fight. I do not claim that it will be easy with him, but I think that it is still easier than with Fundora. I think this is the way he should move, and then go to the next division.
Mannix: I agree with you on this issue. I watched Tszyu in the fight against Terrell Gaucher. This is a very good attacking fighter, but he doesn’t have enough head movement. That is, he is about the same stylistically as Castaño was. But even Brian is much better with head movements. Tszyu may be shocking, but he himself is like an open target. And this means that it is stylistically convenient for Charlo. In such a fight, Jermell has excellent chances not only to win, but to make it by knockout. And do not forget that Tszyu will become better and more experienced with each fight. Therefore, it is more profitable to take the fight with him now.
Mares: Yes, especially since Tszyu himself insists on this. If I were in his place, I would not rush, I would get a little more experience. But this is his career and his choice. I think it will be very difficult for him with Charlo. And the lack of head movement is a serious minus. He just walks right up to his opponent, throwing a lot of punches. Such tactics are not very good at the level at which Charlo performs.
Interestingly, the Charlo-Castaño rematch showed the best numbers on Showtime in three years. After the victory, the champion said: “I’m busy, the contenders should fight among themselves for me.”