Tim Bradley believes that Jermell Charlo has a chance of exploiting Canelo Alvarez’s weakness for uppercuts in their upcoming fight on September 30th, if Charlo is willing to risk getting close enough. Although Charlo boasts an excellent uppercut, he hasn’t relied on this punch as much as he could due to his tendency to maintain distance from his opponents. Against Canelo, Bradley suggests, Charlo will need to draw upon all of his skills and strategies, as a simple jab and throw won't be enough.
Bradley also touched upon Canelo’s recent fights, where he’s seen a change in Canelo’s style, from using lateral movements to focusing more on power punches, which could potentially exhaust him. Canelo’s apparent obsession with power games, since his knockout win over Rocky Fielding in 2018, has led him to throw fewer combinations and focus more on strong, single shots.
Bradley noted that although Charlo will be moving up two weight classes and fighting at 168 for the first time, his potential vulnerability to being knocked out by Canelo remains uncertain. Bradley highlighted how Jermell Charlo’s height advantage might not be of much help against Canelo, as longer arms can mean slower defense. Instead, this could present more opportunities for Canelo to land counterattacks and body shots.
Bradley concluded by re-emphasizing Canelo’s vulnerability to uppercuts, noting how John Ryder managed to exploit this in a previous fight. He advised Charlo to use his own uppercut more frequently, especially given Canelo’s shorter stature. He also pointed out how Canelo tends to break conventional footwork rules when on the offense, which might provide further opportunities for Charlo to gain the upper hand.
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