| |
|
|
Jermell Charlo Roundtable Quotes
Unified WBC, WBA and IBF Super Welterweight World Champion
Jermell Charlo and unbeaten, two-time super middleweight
world champion David Benavídez held court in the same
ballroom and answered questions from media about their
upcoming fights on SHOWTIME during separate media
roundtables inside the Live! By Loews Hotel from Arlington,
Texas. Sitting to their right was Stephen Espinoza,
President, Sports and Event Programming, Showtime Networks
Inc., who offered his thoughts during an intriguing and
wide-ranging discussion involving two of the most talented
fighters today.
“I want to knock this guy out. This is the Jermell from
earlier, back when I was trying to end fights. I want to be
that guy for 12 rounds now,” – Charlo
On Saturday, May 14, Charlo and WBO World Champion Brian
Castaño will meet in a rematch of one of 2021’s most
significant fights as they again seek to become the first
ever undisputed 154-pound champion in the four-belt era live
on SHOWTIME from Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson,
Calif., headlining a Premier Boxing Champions event.
The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® telecast begins at 9 p.m.
ET/6 p.m. PT and also features rising welterweight star and
pound-for-pound talent Jaron “Boots” Ennis battling unbeaten
Custio Clayton in the co-main event.
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB
Promotions and Lions Only Promotions, are on sale now and
can be purchased through AXS.com. Ennis vs. Clayton is
promoted in association with D&D Boxing.
Here’s what the roundtable participants had to say on
Saturday:
JERMELL CHARLO
On not leaving the rematch in the judge’s hands:
“I want to knock this guy out. This is the Jermell from
earlier, back when I was fighting four-rounders and I was
trying to end those fights. I want to be that guy for 12
rounds now.”
On becoming undisputed at 154:
“This is one of the achievements a fighter can have – to
fight to be undisputed, so I’m going to enjoy this moment
and I’m going to have fun when I’m in there on May 14, five
days before my birthday. I’m ready to win this fight
impressively. I hope I get the judges who really understand
boxing. Everyone is used to me knocking everyone out that
when I don’t knock someone out, it’s an issue. This is a
skillful sport, you have to pay the bills for this.”
A different Charlo this time around:
“I’m locked in a little bit different this time. I’m more
dedicated than I’ve ever been. I’m hungrier. I don’t know
what’s next after this opportunity in my life and I’m glad
that God gave me the opportunity to face the same guy and
just put on a better performance. This is about me being the
best Jermell Charlo.
“I was having back spasms (in his preparation for the last
fight). I want to say that I came into this camp doing
things the old school way now. At first, I was being
superstar Jermell Charlo. I put that aside and now this is
about me digging deeper into the Jermell Charlo that I
really am and testing myself with my training and swimming,
running.”
On fighting the winner of a potential Spence-Crawford fight:
“I have no intention on fighting my stablemate (Spence).
Terence Crawford can get that work. I don’t care about him.
I don’t know him, and he doesn’t know me. We can make it
happen. But when you have an emotional tie to someone, it’s
like fighting my twin brother. Now like Spence said, if that
money is right, and you put that brick bread out there,
we’re going to get in there with anybody. We’re not going to
turn down anyone, neither will Spence. But Crawford hasn’t
done anything at 154. How do you want him to fight me? I’m
trying to become undisputed right now. How are we talking
about someone who hasn’t even fought in the division? How
did he just jump from there to there?”
On Facing Sebastian Fundora:
“This is what I do. When you become a champion like that,
you have mandatory after mandatory after mandatory. You have
all these people in the way. Maybe I’ll be the shot-caller
and make the decision who I want to fight next. Fundora? Go
fight someone else? Crawford? You guys fight each other. I’m
busy.”
On his legacy:
“Once the story is written and the book is finished,
everyone’s going to come back and say that Jermell Charlo
did a really good job at 154. I held it down. I’m proud of
what I’ve done in the division, but I have to get Castaño
out of the way. I have to show all the fans why I’m the No.
1 guy that’s been the No. 1 guy for so many years. I possess
a different type of strength. I have a different type of
power when I punch. I’m Hagler and Hearns put together and I
have 12 rounds to do it.”
Hall of Fame bound if he beats Castaño?
“I might get an opportunity to make a move in my life like
that. That’s what’s important. What’s important is leaving a
legacy and I want to leave a legacy for my children and it’s
not about right now. The legacy is for the future so I’m
writing my book and if I don’t get the eyes and the viewers,
that’s ok. I’m not begging to be the most popular boxer. I’m
just doing this for my future.”
On criticism he stayed on the ropes too much in the first
fight:
“In boxing sometimes, you have to fight off the ropes. Yeah,
I could have done better by not being on the ropes. But I
fought myself off the ropes. Who got hurt more? Who got
buckled? To me, I want all the action. At the end of the
day, maybe I won’t be on the ropes that much and get back
into the center of the ring. He didn’t throw as many punches
as he usually does against me. Why? Because he got hurt. The
fight would have ended if he had thrown more punches. I’m
going to smash him this time around.”
|
|
|
