Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez will defend his super middleweight world titles against Jermell Charlo on September 30 in Las Vegas.
Canelo is the undisputed champion of the WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO and it was thought that the Mexican would next face Jermell’s twin brother, Jermall.
However, it is undisputed super welterweight champion Jermell Charlo who will move up two weight divisions to face the 32-year-old Canelo.
“Indisputable vs indisputable,” Canelo declared on Twitter, in an announcement that shocked the boxing world.
Canelo last fought in May, when he sealed a unanimous decision victory over John Ryder to retain his world titles.
More than 50,000 fans watched Canelo fight in Mexico for the first time since 2011, and then there was talk of a rematch against Dmitry Bivol, who defeated him on points in their WBA light heavyweight title fight last May.
But as recently as Friday afternoon, Canelo was being promoted to face Jermall Charlo in September, with Jermall being the reigning WBC middleweight champion.
Then came the announcement: Canelo versus Jermell Charlo, the first meeting of the undisputed champions in the four-belt era.
Charlo (35-1-1) retained all four of his super welterweight belts by defeating Brian Carlos Castaño by knockout in May 2022.
The pair had drawn their previous fight in a split decision in July of the previous year.
Charlo’s only loss to date was to Tony Harrison in December 2018, a loss he avenged 12 months later.
