Tag: jermall charlo
Janibek Alimkhanuly: ‘(Jermall)Charlo would be easy work for me, and he knows that’
Janibek “Qazaq Style” Alimkhanuly (12-0, 8 KOs) was officially named WBO middleweight world champion after the organization’s previous champion, Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade, elected to leave the division instead of making a mandatory defense against Janibek.
According to Top Rank, Janibek will make the first defense of his world title later this year on ESPN.
Janibek (12-0, 8 KOs) made his Top Rank debut as a 2-0 prospect in 2018 and quickly moved up the ranks with victories over Vaughn Alexander, Steven Martinez, and Albert Onolunose. He broke through in 2021 with one-sided knockouts over former world champions Rob Brant and Hassan N’Dam.
In May, Janibek fought Danny Dignum for the interim WBO middleweight title after multiple prospective opponents turned down the opportunity. Janibek knocked out Dignum in the second round.
“I would pick Janibek over any middleweight in the world,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. “He is a southpaw with tremendous power and will reign over the division for a very long time.”
This is what the new WBO middleweight world champion had to say:
On being the WBO Middleweight champion:
“I am honored to be the first WBO world champion from Kazakhstan. As middleweight champion, I will represent my nation with great pride.”
On Andrade:
“Demetrius Andrade had no interest in fighting me. I wanted to fight him because I know I would knock him out. He ran away to super middleweight to avoid fighting me. But don’t worry, Demetrius. After I unify the belts at middleweight, we can fight.”
On Jermall Charlo:
“I’d have no issue fighting Jermall Charlo for his WBC title. We are both champions, so let’s unify the belts. Charlo would be easy work for me, and he knows that. Champions should fight other champions. It’s too bad the other so-called ‘champions’ do not feel that way.”
Munguia on fight with Charlo: ‘I think it would be great for boxing’
Former world champion and undefeated Jaime Munguia (40-0, 32 KOs) got off to a slow start Saturday night against former world title challenger Jimmy “Kilrain” Kelly (26-3, 10 KOs) in their scheduled 12-round super middleweight fight at Honda Center in Anaheim, California.
Kelly was in control for the first few rounds, but Munguia started to land strong power punches as Kelly tried and often failed to counter. By the fifth round, Munguia attacked, dropping him three times to be declared the winner by knockout at the 2:57 marker.
“It was difficult in the beginning since he’s a slippery, tough fighter, and he could take a punch,” said Munguia. “He was trying to do his plan of attack, but I had to do my thing and work the body. My mentality was that I was losing the first three rounds. So I had to follow my plan of slowing him down by attacking the body. I figured out that I had to work through the middle and throw punches like the uppercut. I think it was the punch that I knocked him down with.”
After the fight, the 25-year-old Munguia, who, like his promoter, Oscar De La Hoya, did earlier this week, called out WBC middleweight champion Jermall Charlo. Recently, the two were in talks about a fight, but they could not come to an agreement.
“I think this fight helped me out a lot,” he said. “I’m ready to go back to 160 to fight for a world title or move to 168. I’m ready for any challenge. There are a lot of people who are supporting me. I want to say what Oscar said for Charlo to grow some balls and stop hiding behind Haymon. I think it would be great for boxing. We hope that by the end of the year, we can get a big fight.”
A fight with Charlo would be great, but the business of boxing makes it difficult. Charlo is with PBC/Showtime, and Munguia is with Golden Boy/DAZN, so we’ll see if it happens.
Photo: Tom Hogan / Golden Boy
De La Hoya: ‘One thing about Charlo and the whole PBC stable is that they hide behind Haymon’
Jaime Munguia (39-0, 31 KOs) will return on Saturday night as he battler former world title challenger Jimmy Kelly (26-2, 10 KOs) in a 12-round super middleweight fight on Saturday at Anaheim’s Honda Center.
Recently, Munguia was in talks to battle WBC middleweight champion Jermall Charlo, but those discussions broke down as the two sides could not come to an agreement.
At the final press conference for Munguia-Kelly on Thursday, Golden Boy Promotions Chairman and CEO Oscar De La Hoya talked Charlo-Munguia. According to De La Hoya, Munguia’s side is still ready to make the fight.
“In terms of Charlo, we were ready to make the fight,” De La Hoya said. “We were ready to do whatever it took to give Jaime Munguia the fight he wants and everybody has been asking for. One thing about Charlo and the whole PBC stable is that they hide behind Al Haymon; that’s the bottom line. We don’t want to make ordinary fights; we want to make the best fights. I hope Charlo grows some balls and tells his promoter to fight the very best. These are the fights boxing needs and the fights the fans deserve.”
“I’m not going to exclude our partner DAZN from any type of negotiation. There’s always room for negotiation. Meet us halfway; we can walk across the street; we can meet in the middle of the street. There is no protection; Munguia is ready for anyone. They’re hiding behind Al Haymon, and that’s the bottom line. If the fighters really want to fight, they have to stop saying, ‘talk to my promoter/manager.’ The fighters have a voice, and they need to use it.”
Every story has two sides, so who knows what is true. According to ESPN’s Mike Coppinger, Charlo-Munguia talks broke down due to a dispute over U.S. broadcast rights.
Many would love to see Charlo-Munguia and other fights in boxing, but too often, the business of boxing gets in the way.
Let’s hope they can make the fight.
Photo: Tom Hogan / Golden Boy
Charlo-Sulecki postponed after Charlo suffers back injury
The Jermall Charlo vs. Maciej Sulecki event, scheduled to take place Saturday, June 18 live on SHOWTIME from Toyota Center in Houston, has been postponed after Charlo suffered a back injury in training.
The card will be rescheduled to a new date that will be announced pending an assessment of when Charlo can return to training.
Lara: ‘I want to fight both Charlo brothers’
After spending a decade at super welterweight where he captured two world titles, Erislandy Lara (29-3-3, 17 KOs), who is now the WBA regular world champion at middleweight, is looking to fight all champions in the division.
Being one of the best fighters in the middleweight division, Lara is eager to get a big fight after back-to-back knockouts wins in his last two fights. Last Saturday, on the “Tank” Davis vs Rolly Romero PPV card, Lara stopped Gary “Spike” O’Sullivan (31-5, 21 KOs), and before that he knocked out Thomas LaManna (31-5, 13 KOs) with a devastating overhand left in round one.
“I want to fight both Charlo brothers, either one, as well as I would love to welcome Danny Garcia to his new weight class at some form of a catchweight,” said Lara. “If Keith Thurman wants to fight the best, I am very open to doing a catchweight bout with him too. Errol Spence and Gennady Golovkin are two names I would love to fight as well. I know I am one of the best fighters in the world. I want to fight someone people consider is a legend and beat them.”
Since moving up to middleweight, Lara is on a two-fight knockout streak, and has transformed from a boxing puncher to an inside power puncher, and amazing revolution to say the least. Lara credits to his new coach, Ismael Salas.
“With my new coach, I am learning how to fight on the inside more, I am hitting harder than ever, and I am more dangerous than ever,” said Lara about his recent training methods with coach Ismael Salas. “I am capable of boxing when I need to, but I’m also able to back fighters up, which is something most people might not think of when they think of my fighting style. I am the most complete fighter at middleweight right now and am open to any-and-all challenges.”
Charlo: ‘I have my sights set on bigger opposition’
Unbeaten WBC Middleweight World Champion Jermall Charlo and former title challenger Maciej Sulecki previewed their upcoming championship showdown during a virtual press conference Wednesday before they meet on Saturday, June 18 live on SHOWTIME from Toyota Center in Houston in an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions.
Charlo will hold a Juneteenth celebration in his hometown for the second-straight year on June 18, headlining in Houston again after defeating Juan Montiel in an action-fight last year at Toyota Center. Charlo seeks a fifth successful middleweight title defense but will have to get by the veteran Sulecki, who has gone the distance with former champions Daniel Jacobs and Demetrius Andrade and has added longtime Polish contender Andrzej Fonfara to his training team ahead of this fight.
The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® telecast will also feature undefeated top super bantamweight contender Ra’eese Aleem battling Mike Plania in the 10-round co-main event, and unbeaten lightweight contender Frank Martin facing Panama’s Ricardo Núñez in the 10-round telecast opener at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT
Here is what Charlo had to say Wednesday:
Photos: Sean Michael Ham/TGB Promotions
Fighting on Juneteenth:
“Juneteenth is my day and I’m happy to be performing again on the main stage in my city at Toyota Center. It’s going to be a great night of boxing against another tough opponent. I’m ready to get in there…
“Juneteenth is a big holiday in my city and my town. It started in Galveston only 30 miles away from Houston. It’s a holiday here and I’m the best person to represent it at this time. I’m thankful to fight Juneteenth weekend.”
Fighting Sulecki:
“My opponents always talk. Once they get in there with me, they see that it’s a whole different story. I wanted someone like him who will come in not scared and ready to fight. That’s what I need.
“Sulecki is a good challenger. A lot of people might not know him but he’s been in there with top competition. This is the right timing for this fight against a strong opponent. I’m ready for whatever he brings. He says he can beat my tactics, but once he’s in there he’s going to have to survive..
“I’m very familiar with Sulecki. I’ve trained with one of his friends and he’ll be able to tell him what that heat is going to be like in the ring.
“This is going to be another war. I’m going to be in the pocket and ready to go. Whatever he does, I’ll make the adjustments. If I hit him with something flush, I’m going to knock him out.”
Moving up to 168:
“I’m not in a rush. I’m the champion at 160 pounds. So these guys have to fight me no matter what. I have my sights set on bigger opposition. We’ll move forward when it’s time. If I have to move up to 168 to do that, let’s look at the drawing board after this fight.
Motivated by his brother, Jermell:
“It motivated me to see my brother Jermell capture those goals that we’ve both always wanted. That’s something that I want to do. Sulecki is standing in front of that goal right now. Everyone wants to be champion, but not everyone is destined to be a champion.
“I’m fighting to get the biggest names and get the biggest fights. I’m fighting for my legacy. I’m fighting for something way bigger than just fighting Sulecki.”
Davis, Spence, Charlo brothers, Benavidez headline Showtime/PBC upcoming boxing schedule
SHOWTIME Sports and Premier Boxing Champions today announced nine boxing events across the first half of 2022
The lineup pits champions against champions and top contenders against top contenders to form the strongest and most ambitious schedule in the industry.
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Nine marquee events across five months featuring 21 undefeated fighters;
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Two world championship unifications bouts, one for all four world title belts and the coveted title of Undisputed Champion, and one for three world title belts;
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Seven world championship matches with at least 13 world title belts at stake and three world title eliminators;
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All of the top-six ranked super welterweights fighting in a seven-week span;
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Several pivotal crossroads fights from super bantamweight to super middleweight with an average of two events per month through July.