I know New York City in the middle of August is miserable, but you would assume that a pair of undisputed champions – super middleweight boss Canelo Alvarez and junior middleweight king Jermell Charlo – would look at least a little bit happy about their September 30 bout in Las Vegas. (photo by Ryan Hafey)
They’re going to dominate headlines for the next month and a half, make a boatload of money, and there will be a nice name on the resume with a win.
I’d be smiling.
But at the Palladium Times Square on Tuesday, the pair were all business as they officially announced a bout that may be the sleeper pick for 2023 Fight of the Year. It will already be in the running for the event of the year, alongside Terence Crawford-Errol Spence Jr. and Gervonta Davis-Ryan Garcia, but then again, anytime Mexico’s Alvarez enters the ring, it earns that distinction.
Yet after a less than stellar performance against gutsy Brit John Ryder in May, some have wondered whether we’re witnessing the decline of the 33-year-old, hence a fight with someone two weight classes below him this fall.
“It’s good that people are saying I’ve lost a step,” said Alvarez. “It’s fine. I know why I didn’t look as good in my last two fights. I know why and I’m different now. I’m preparing now for a different type of fighter.”
A smaller fighter, a fighter who hasn’t competed since May of 2022, when he bounced back from a draw with Brian Castano by knocking Castano out in the tenth round. And for all Charlo’s talent, there is the outside impression that he is the sacrificial lamb for Alvarez’ new deal with PBC, with even Charlo’s brother, WBC middleweight titleholder Jermall, saying that he’s got next. It’s all gotten under Jermell’s skin, with the most emotion shown by the 154-pound champ being directed at the media.
“They don’t like me, they ain’t ever liked me,” he said. “They write all that crazy sh!t, they talk crazy about me. Be proud of what’s going on, be happy for the fight.”
That’s the thing; if you’re a boxing fan, you should be happy for Alvarez-Charlo because it’s one of those fights with a million questions attached to it. Is Canelo done? Is Charlo being fed to the wolves? Will size matter? Does Charlo still have that “It” factor that marked him as a future superstar or has that ship sailed? Is this the kind of danger that will motivate Canelo and bring him to a new level since he’s still only 33 years old?
That’s what makes a great fight, and Alvarez is prepared to bring one. Not for the drama, but for him to prove that it’s the fights that matter.
“Everyone wants drama and for us to fight on this stage, but when two fighters are 100% focused like we are right now, it’s gonna make it a great fight in the ring,” said Alvarez.
“I just want to quiet my haters and doubters and turn non-believers into believers,” said Charlo. “I’ve watched a lot of great people in the sport of boxing and now I think this is the best moment for me to leave my mark. With two great fighters in there, you get nothing but fireworks. When this fight presented itself, it was a no-brainer to make this happen.”
It was certainly a no-brainer for Alvarez, whose legacy in the sport is secure thanks to multiple divisional world titles and wins over nearly 20 world champions. He can walk into the ring at T-Mobile Arena, catch a quick left hook, fall down, and people will a) chalk it up to Father Time or b) say it was a lucky punch and get in line to buy his next pay-per-view fight.
There’s more on the line for Texas’ Charlo, also 33, but much less accomplished than his opponent, whose 168-pound belts will be on the line in Vegas. The “Iron Man” hasn’t had a bad career at all; in fact, it’s one 95% of his peers would envy. But it’s never been what everyone thought it would be.
No one would complain about a 35-1-1 (19 KOs) record that includes all four major belts at 154 pounds. But the big fights always eluded him, and when he got caught napping by Tony Harrison in 2018 (a loss later avenged by knockout) and was held to a draw with Castano, a large segment of the boxing public soured on him as a superstar and put him in the “decent with star potential” category. Supporters will say he proved that he has something in the basement when the going gets tough, and his grit in a dogfight was certainly noticed by Team Canelo.
“He is a great fighter with a big heart that has gotten up off the mat after losing, and that makes him even more dangerous,” said Alvarez’ trainer Eddy Reynoso. “He lost, but he also redeemed himself and showed that you can redeem yourself to earn big fights like this one.”
Charlo has. In fact, it’s safe to say that for all the headlining gigs over the years, this is the biggest fight of his career, and the one that may not even define it, unless he wins. If he loses, he lost to the bigger man. He wins, well, you can figure out the rest.
That’s a life changer. Worth putting on the weight properly, getting up early to run those miles, and sacrifice everything until September 30 rolls around.
“I’m gonna train my ass off and be intelligent,” he said. “I know I’m moving up in weight, but who cares? That won’t stop me from getting in there and doing it the way I do it. I’m excited for this moment. My heart, desire and determination will give me what I need to win. I guarantee a great night and that you’re gonna hear some lions roaring.”
Or maybe an underdog biting back.