.jpg)
The WBC named numerous mandatory challengers for its titles during its annual convention Wednesday in Acapulco, Mexico.
Carlos Adames was not among them.
The Dominican middleweight publicly petitioned the WBC to name him the mandatory challenger for Jermall Charlo’s championship, but WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman expressed patience while they wait to find out when its middleweight champion plans to fight again. Houston’s Charlo (32-0, 22 KOs) hasn’t boxed since June 2021 and does not have a fight scheduled.
“Charlo is currently recovering from an injury,” Sulaiman said. “That is why the WBC ordered the interim championship. We will assess what is the status of Jermall. And, in the meantime, Carlos Adames is free to defend the interim championship. So, there is no issue. Once we understand the situation of Charlo, we will assess the division.”
The 32-year-old Charlo withdrew from his fight against Poland’s Maciej Sulecki (30-2, 11 KOs), which was scheduled for June 18 at Toyota Center in Houston. Charlo reportedly sustained a back injury while training, but BoxingScene.com has been informed that Charlo has recovered from that injury and has been tending to personal matters.
Charlo hasn’t fought since he unanimously out-pointed Mexico’s Juan Macias Montiel in a 12-rounder that took place 16 months ago at Toyota Center.
Charlo’s lengthy layoff caused the WBC to order an interim middleweight championship bout between Adames and Montiel. Adames (22-1, 17 KOs) knocked out Montiel (23-6-2, 23 KOs) in the third round of their scheduled 12-rounder October 8 at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.
The 28-year-old Adames apparently will attempt at least one defense of his interim championship before the WBC will consider ordering a Charlo-Adames match. Charlo and Adames both are affiliated with Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions, therefore their fight shouldn’t be complicated to make.
Mexico’s Jaime Munguia figures to be the WBC’s number one-ranked middleweight when its new ratings are released.
Munguia (40-0, 32 KOs) is ranked second in the WBC’s current ratings, which were released the day before Adames defeated Montiel. Adames was ranked first at that point, but he won’t be listed as a contender in its new ratings because he has since won its interim championship.
Munguia turned down an opportunity in March to fight Adames in a WBC eliminator. Tijuana’s Munguia, 26, is scheduled to square off against Argentina’s Gonzalo Gaston Coria (21-5, 8 KOs) in a 10-rounder DAZN will stream November 19 from Arena Astros in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.