He also claimed future options are already lined up with Tim Tszyu and Errol Spence Jr.
“We’re in talks with Tim Tszyu and Errol Spence. All three guys have agreed to fight me.”
That’s ambitious language from a fighter who hasn’t competed since losing to Canelo Alvarez in 2023. Charlo turns 36 on May 19, and many fans believe a long layoff should mean a draft or rival fight first, not an immediate shot at a champion. However, Charlo made it clear that he still considers himself the division’s top man.
The problem is that Jermell is basically trying to cash a check from 2022 in a completely different economy. PBC PPV prices have climbed to $75+, and asking fans to shell that out for a guy who hasn’t won a fight since May 2022 is a tough ask. This is a financial risk for the promoters.
Jermell is used to undisputed money. If he demands a massive guaranteed purse to fight Fundora or Ennis, the math just doesn’t work for a promoter if the buy rate doesn’t break 150k or 200k.
In boxing, three years is an eternity. Since Jermell went quiet, we’ve seen the rise of Xander Zayas and the arrival of “Boots” Ennis at 154.
“I said I’m coming back. I said I want my tires,” Charlo said. “No one beat me for my belts.”
Promoters are not calling because Jermell is currently low security. If a promoter puts him in a main event and he looks like the version of himself that showed up against Canelo Alvarez or didn’t show up, the event is a disaster. Financially, it could be a disaster anyway.
Jermell wants the reward of a champion without the draft tax that every other veteran has to pay after a long layoff. In a 2026 landscape filled with young, hungry and active talent, it’s certainly a bold choice to think that you can cut to the front of the line just because of what you did four years ago.
If Jermell would just get active, beat some top contenders at 154, like Israil Madrimov, Bakhram Murtazaliev or Brandon Adams, it would be less of a problem.
