It had been a long time since we last saw Jermall Charlo in the ring.
At two-and-half-years to be exact since the WBC middleweight champion last fought.
Yet, no belt was on the line Saturday night. Charlo, who defeated Jose Benavidez Jr., still seems to be fighting personal turmoil. As Charlo missed weight a day prior by three pounds. Charlo also seemed vague on what is next. Charlo's inactivity has been credited to a mental health struggle which has not been revealed in detail. Though he has options, his first battle is activity. One of the more compelling middleweights might be a super middleweight now. Charlo seems unsure of what direction he will go with his career next.
“I was rusty,” said Charlo in the post-fight press conference. “You couldn’t tell, but I was rusty. You know, I just mastered being who I am. I got the job done. Proud of my performance meaning we got the victory.”
“I am down for whatever, I am not really a matchmaker,” said Charlo. “I am pretty sure that mandatory is going to come to a point where I have to fight [Carlos] Adames, and I have to fight Janibek to become undisputed, and unify the division at [middleweight].”
Charlo once a brash, cocky fighter now is different. He seems human. Charlo spoke of not being able to get his brother Jermell to talk to him anymore. The only constant seems to be Ronnie Shields, his long-time coach who is still there. Charlo acknowledged he holds the WBC middleweight title. His mandatory would be Carlos Adames. Caleb Plant slapped him this summer at a boxing event. That fight has interest as well. Though Charlo addressed both - neither seemed to gather more than indifference.
“I saw Caleb Plant in the crowd, that’d be a good fight,” said Charlo when asked what is next. “Man, when I get a chance to do [what I do], he lucky tonight I didn’t go down there and slap his [expletive] ass. I don’t want revenge. I am going to get it the right way by making these millions. My revenge is going to be taking care of my family…all this [expletive] is stale. We want something new. Who got the belts? He don’t got the belts. He is struggling right now.”
