“Go back to 147.. mfer don’t have time for all that waiting and chatting,” Charlo wrote on X. “I can literally prove that since January 2024, I’ve been asking to fight whoever they say is the best at 154.”
The frustration did not appear overnight. After his reign came to a halt at 154, the WBA listed Charlo as a champion in recess, positioning him for a possible fight with the winner of Terence Crawford against Israil Madrimov. That route never opened. The division continued to move, and Charlo remained without a confirmed date or opponent.
Charlo turns 36 in May 2026. He has not fought since his one-sided twelve-round loss to Canelo Alvarez in September 2023. This fight took place at super middleweight. His last win came in May 2022. Every month since then, the yield has made it harder to sell on performance alone.
From a business standpoint, the welterweight idea carries logic. At 154, Charlo had belts and leverage. He entered into discussions with authority. At 147, he would arrive without one. The fighters getting attention in that division are younger, active and already positioned for big fights.
If Riyadh Season wanted a familiar American name, Charlo could have conversations involving Ryan Garcia, Devin Haney or Conor Benn. These are the attacks that still warrant big purses. Without Saudi support, the financial case becomes much thinner.
The problems start as soon as the discussion shifts to the body.
Charlo has not fought at welterweight since December 2009, when he faced Abdon Lozano early in his career. Now making 147 is not guaranteed. Years with higher weights and a long layoff turn the cut into a real exam.
There is also the issue of expectations. If Charlo is looking for a big payday immediately, it requires outside money. It probably requires Saudi interest. It’s a tough field for a fighter coming off a clear loss, with no win since 2022, and no recent activity to point to.
Charlo was hoping to get a fight with Vergil Ortiz Jr. at 154 ​​to be ensured. Nothing came of it. Now he talks about starting again at a lower weight, with less control and less time.
The clock does not slow down. At 147, Charlo would be entering someone else’s market. He’d be asking for a seat that’s already filled, and he can’t afford to lose or look poor while doing it.
