BoxRec

Sources: Canelo inks PBC deal, to fight Jermall Charlo in Sept.

Canelo Alvarez, boxing's top star, will defend his undisputed super middleweight championship against Jermall Charlo in September, likely Sept. 16 on Mexican Independence Day weekend, sources told ESPN on Thursday.

Alvarez (59-2-2, 39 KOs) struck a three-fight deal with PBC, with the other two fights expected to take place on Cinco De Mayo weekend and Mexican Independence Day weekend in 2024, sources said. The Mexican fighter's bout against Charlo, the WBC middleweight titleholder, is expected to be a Showtime PPV.

The network declined comment. Alvarez announced on Instagram a "done deal" for September along with the PBC logo, but he didn't name an opponent or specify that the deal was for multiple fights.

The deal is a coup for PBC, which brings the sport's top star into the fold and away from rival promoter Eddie Hearn. Hearn's Matchroom Boxing promoted Alvarez's past three fights, including his most recent outing, a Mexico homecoming win over John Ryder in May.

The other two bouts with Matchroom and DAZN took place last year, a defeat in May to Dmitry Bivol at 175 pounds (Alvarez's only loss since a 2013 bout vs. Floyd Mayweather) and a victory over Gennadiy Golovkin in a September trilogy bout.

Prior to that, Canelo scored an 11th-round TKO of Caleb Plant in a PBC on Showtime PPV bout in November 2021.

Last month, Alvarez was No. 5 on Forbes' highest-paid athletes list at estimated earnings of $110 million in 2022. The four-division champion defeated Ryder before 50,000-plus fans to retain his four 168-pound titles and is ranked No. 5 pound-for-pound by ESPN.

Charlo (32-0, 22 KOs) is an elite fighter and was in the running for the Canelo assignment last May when Alvarez picked Bivol.

However, Charlo hasn't competed since June 2021, when he scored a unanimous decision win over Juan Macias Montiel. WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman said last month that Charlo's inactivity is due to mental health. Charlo is a former 154-pound titleholder who has never competed above 160 pounds.

His twin brother, Jermell Charlo, is the undisputed junior middleweight champion. Both Charlos are advised by Al Haymon. Jermall, who fights out of Houston, is now expected to earn a career-high payday.

Alvarez was also offered a fight against cruiserweight champion Badou Jack in Saudi Arabia, but the weight was an issue. Jack tweeted that he was willing to come down to 190 pounds for the 200-pound title fight, but that Alvarez didn't want to fight above 180 pounds.

And now Alvarez is with PBC, which also has the second-biggest stateside attraction in its ranks in Gervonta Davis and is set to stage the July 29 superfight between Errol Spence Jr. and Terence Crawford.

3-fight deal with PBC.

First opponent likely to be Jermall Charlo..

Other two fights. Hopefully one of Benavidez.

Finally Hearn shuts up about promoting Canelo.

PBC having a stacked stable kinda sucks… cause they are often terrible at getting people out more than once a year.

Charlo about get his first L.

Charlo to come up in weight and been off for 2 years...another well timed fight from Canelo. Gotta say I like Charlo though...could still be a cracker.

Nothing surprising. Canelo always had back-up options and tbh this very possible fight was predictable since Charlo was "idle" for so much time and not being stripped by wbc. Also Canelo's trainer once said that Charlo is a fight that they're looking for.

Business-wise it would be a very profitable fight but competition-wise we know that Charlito fought some poor competition at mw (beside Chenko and Korobov) and he is ring rusted. Also Charlo was fighting at mw.
Maybe thats why Charlo was so coddled to keep his 0 and his strap safe to cash in vs Canelo in a big fight? Its all about business and politics.

Benavidez (wbc mando), Morrell(wba mando) or even Munguia(ranked no. 2 in the wbc smw rankings) would've been more freshly-in good shape type of good opponents for Canelo imo. Of course the Bivol rematch at 175 would've been the the icing on the cake imo.

Somehow it could be a nice half-cherypick for Canelo bc probably Charlo would train hard for this fight to look decent.

Canelo-Charlo makes sense and should be a W for Canelo to build the Benavidez fight next May, which will be absolutely massive assuming Benavidez wins his fight later this year (wonder if they'll go for Andrade rather than Morrell so as not to jeopardise a potential Canelo fight).

The interesting thing would be who the fall 2024 opponent might be for Canelo. Morrell? Tsyzu-Charlo winner at a catchweight? Spence at a catchweight?

I wanted this fight for a years. Cannot wait for it. NO BOXING NO LIFE

Charlo beats the version of Canelo that just fought Ryder. Charlo was always a bad stylistic matchup for Canelo and IMO Charlo is the naturally bigger guy even if he's the one moving up.

As badly as I would love to see Charlo get his ass handed to him, he beats Canelo if he's anywhere near the same form he was prior to his hiatus.

NateJR wrote: ↑23 Jun 2023, 09:47 Charlo beats the version of Canelo that just fought Ryder. Charlo was always a bad stylistic matchup for Canelo and IMO Charlo is the naturally bigger guy even if he's the one moving up.

As badly as I would love to see Charlo get his ass handed to him, he beats Canelo if he's anywhere near the same form he was prior to his hiatus.

What exactly is bad style for Canelo ?

NateJR wrote: ↑23 Jun 2023, 09:47 Charlo beats the version of Canelo that just fought Ryder. Charlo was always a bad stylistic matchup for Canelo and IMO Charlo is the naturally bigger guy even if he's the one moving up.

As badly as I would love to see Charlo get his ass handed to him, he beats Canelo if he's anywhere near the same form he was prior to his hiatus.

Guy hasn't fought in 2 years..

Roars Like Me wrote: ↑23 Jun 2023, 05:02 Charlo to come up in weight and been off for 2 years...another well timed fight from Canelo. Gotta say I like Charlo though...could still be a cracker.

Going up 8 pounds may help him. He has to cut a lot to make 160.
He has talent to compete with Canelo, but will have to KO him to win.

Cent0089 wrote: ↑23 Jun 2023, 09:57

NateJR wrote: ↑23 Jun 2023, 09:47 Charlo beats the version of Canelo that just fought Ryder. Charlo was always a bad stylistic matchup for Canelo and IMO Charlo is the naturally bigger guy even if he's the one moving up.

As badly as I would love to see Charlo get his ass handed to him, he beats Canelo if he's anywhere near the same form he was prior to his hiatus.

What exactly is bad style for Canelo ?

Someone who can mix it up on the inside and outside. Someone who doesn't tire out down the stretch.


I wouldn't have picked Charlo prior to Canelos loss to Bivol. Since the Bivol fight, Canelo looked disinterested and isn't the same fighter he was against Plant and BJS.

naah canelo beats charlo, a class above. charlo wont have fought in nearly 2.5 years come fight time either, and he looked like crap vs a total can in it. was even hurt and flagging down the stretch vs a guy who couldnt last 3 with adames or munguia

NateJR wrote: ↑24 Jun 2023, 20:44

Cent0089 wrote: ↑23 Jun 2023, 09:57

NateJR wrote: ↑23 Jun 2023, 09:47 Charlo beats the version of Canelo that just fought Ryder. Charlo was always a bad stylistic matchup for Canelo and IMO Charlo is the naturally bigger guy even if he's the one moving up.

As badly as I would love to see Charlo get his ass handed to him, he beats Canelo if he's anywhere near the same form he was prior to his hiatus.

What exactly is bad style for Canelo ?

Someone who can mix it up on the inside and outside. Someone who doesn't tire out down the stretch.


I wouldn't have picked Charlo prior to Canelos loss to Bivol. Since the Bivol fight, Canelo looked disinterested and isn't the same fighter he was against Plant and BJS.

maybe youre getting your charlos mixed up, cuz jermall very clearly tired down the stretch last fight, to the point of being pushed around late by a total can who adames and munguia bombed out in 2-3 rounds. it was quite obvious and talked about a lot. if you think he beats canelo by simply being 'anywhere near' that form you are nuts. he'll have to be way way better

he also gave up the final 3 rounds to derev in his mw best win, he doesnt end 12 round fights strong

Now that Canelo signed a three fight deal with PBC I doubt that Benavidez will fight Morrell next or vice versa. All these PBC fighters would stay safe and wait for Canelo's phone call.

I'd like to see Bena fighting Morrell or maybe Munguia next and then the winner would be a true solid opponent for Canelo.

It's quite intrigiung to see the possibly past prime Canelo against much fresher Charlo.

Canelo beats any version of both Charlo bros and also Benavidez. There are levels in boxing and Canelo proved himself at the elite level many times.