Errol Spence Jr has thrown his weight behind Jermell Charlo’s audacious step up to challenge the undisputed champion, Canelo Alvarez. Spence, who stands two inches taller than the 5’8″ Canelo, believes that Charlo has the size and skill to take on the Mexican powerhouse at the 168 weight class. Notably, Charlo is making a giant leap from 154 to challenge Alvarez’s undisputed championship scheduled for September 30th.
Despite the odds, Spence seems confident in Charlo's abilities. He maintains that the 6’0” Charlo has more than enough stature to go toe-to-toe with Canelo. The key, Spence suggests, is for Charlo to avoid bulking up excessively, which might hamper his agility in the ring. Spence’s other concern for his fellow boxer is the 16-month inactivity period that Jermell has had to endure, potentially putting his stamina at risk against Canelo's renowned power shots.
As intriguing as Charlo’s bold move is, the boxing world is abuzz with the possibility of a Spence-Canelo showdown in the future. Spence stated he’d be open to a fight with Canelo if everything works out for him in his upcoming clash with Terence Crawford on July 29th. While many boxing fans speculate that Spence has already been penciled in as one of Canelo’s next opponents in a lucrative three-fight deal with PBC, Spence remains focused on his immediate opponent and is cautious about moving up to the 168 class.
Spence finished off by saying, “It could happen; I don’t see why not. But it’s something I’m definitely not worried about if it happens. If it happens, it’s something it happens. If it doesn’t, I ain’t chasing nobody or trying to make that fight happen.” The air is ripe with anticipation as fans eagerly await these fights that could redefine the landscape of boxing.
Image Credit: DAZN