Jermell Charlo said that a win over September 30 opponent Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas will elevate him to a place amongst "the greats" of boxing.
The American fighter has already built an impressive resume in his sport as his wins over Tony Harrison, Jeison Rosario, and Brian Castano saw him unify all of the major super welterweight world championship titles, and advanced his pro record to 35 wins (19 KOs) against just one defeat.
"I'm right where I should be and if I need more work to do, I've got work to do," Charlo told ProBox TV and other reporters recently at the Beverly Hilton hotel in Los Angeles.
Victory over Canelo, though, would trump any of Charlo's aforementioned wins, as well as his previous title wins over other big names like Austin Trout, Erickson Lubin, John Jackson, Vanes Martirosyan, and Gabriel Rosado.
Considering Charlo is leaving the comfort of the 154-pound division, jumping straight over the middleweight limit at 160-pounds, and challenging one of boxing's best fighters at super middleweight — 168-pounds — for all of Canelo's titles, a win would be the stuff of legend.
It is something he recognizes. "A win over Canelo will put me in as one of the greats," he told us.
But Charlo wouldn't want to stop there, as he said other big fights would tempt him, too.
"Then I’ve got to fight the Mexican Monster and I’ve got to fight Caleb Plant, so I’m gonna have to fight the big boys," he said.
Fights against David Benavidez and Caleb Plant would presumably take place at 168-pounds, too, indicating that Charlo's days at super welterweight are over.
Yet he may compete at middleweight.
"I'll have all little motherfuckers trying to fight me," he said. "And I've got the Omaha fisherman [Terence Crawford]."
Charlo has already achieved a lot in boxing but if his future plays out like he hopes then the best is yet to come.
