JERMALL CHARLO SAYS HE WILL BEAT BOTH BENAVIDEZ BROTHERS

Jermall Charlo is confident he'll defeat Jose Benavidez Jr. on November 25th, with plans to go after his brother, David, as well. Their showdown will be part of the Showtime pay-per-view event starting at 8:00 p.m. ET at the Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas.

If Jermall comes out on top against Benavidez Jr., he anticipates that fans might not fully credit him because he's spent most of his career in the welterweight division. Additionally, last year, Benavidez Jr. suffered a loss to Danny Garcia, who isn't the fighter he once was. Charlo (32-0, 22 KOs) views the smaller, less experienced Benavidez (28-2-1, 19 KOs) brother as a tune-up opponent to shake off any ring rust following an extended break.

Jermell has labeled Benavidez Jr. as a "scrub," reminding him that he's lost the only two times he faced quality opposition during his thirteen-year professional career.

Critics have taken issue with Charlo and the WBC for allowing him to retain his 160-pound championship despite not having fought for 28 months. The scrutiny has grown, especially since Charlo's first fight since June 2021 is a 10-round, non-title bout against Benavidez on November 25 in Las Vegas.

During their virtual press conference, Benavidez disclosed that they would meet at a catch weight of 163 pounds, three pounds above the middleweight limit. A reporter questioned Charlo (32-0, 22 KOs) about the fairness of his champion status after such a notably long period of inactivity following his unanimous-decision victory over Juan Macias Montiel more than two years ago at the Toyota Center in Houston.

Charlo acknowledged during the press conference his interest in moving up to the 168-pound division for his first fight in 2024. If Charlo overcomes Jose Benavidez Jr. and David Benavidez defeats Demetrius Andrade in Showtime Pay-Per-View's main event on November 25, Charlo may become a potential opponent for David Benavidez.

Jermall's extended layoff is attributed to physical injuries and mental health issues. Mauricio Sulaiman, the president of the WBC, publicly backs Charlo and hasn't designated him as a "champion in recess."

It remains intriguing to observe Jermall's performance after a 2.5-year hiatus since his last fight in 2021.

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