Jermall Charlo Focused on Next Opportunity After Cancelled Card

Charlo speaks with the writer. The fighter hopes to secure a fight quickly after a Oct. 26 clash was cancelled. (Rachel McCarson photo)

Junior middleweight prospect Jermall Charlo (9-0, 5 KOs) was looking forward to his fight versus TBA for Friday, October 26^th in Austin, Texas. The card was to be put on by fledgling promotional company ICON Promotions at Austin Music Hall.

Charlo, a Houston native who is trained by topflight cornerman Ronnie Shields alongside brother and fellow 154 lb prospect Jermell Charlo, was anxious for a chance to show off his newly refined power and skills, which he says can be attributed to the futuristic training methods he and other Shields’ fighters are now getting with fitness guru Danny Arnold at Plex Boxing.

“I’m feeling good,” he told me when we chatted at Plex during training camp. “I’m feeling better than I’ve ever felt in my life.”

Charlo told me he was looking forward to fighting in Austin, Texas, where he felt he’d have a strong base of supporters and that he had actually turned down another opportunity recently so that he could focus on this one.

The card was to feature Charlo as well as notable San Antonian super featherweight Ivan Najera along with a main even showcase for middleweight contender (and fellow Shields’ disciple) Brian Vera.

Charlo had something special in mind for the card.

“I’ll be fighting for breast cancer awareness,” he told me. “We’ve lost lots of people to cancer. It’s breast cancer month, so hopefully I can help get the word out.”

Unfortunately, the card was cancelled, though a spokesman for ICON Promotions told me they were working hard to set up a new date for the fight card in the not-too-distant future.

“The promoter started having problems with the venue and his insurance for the venue, and so he felt the negatives outweighed the positives,” Event Coordinator OJ McClintock said.

“ICON Promotions decided to postpone the event,” he said. “We’re trying to get another venue for next month.”

For Charlo, the date can’t come soon enough, whether it’s on the postponed ICON Promotions card (tentatively scheduled for next month) or on another card with another promoter. The 22-year-old hasn’t fought since March’s Garcia-Morales I card where he scored an impressive fifth round TKO over journeyman Sean Rawley Wilson, and he’s anxious for another bout.

“Yes I'm so ready to get back in ring,” Charlo told me. “Every fight, I learn something new about my craft. I'm training alongside of my twin brother, and sparring with heavier guys like Edwin Rodriguez, Brian Vera and Erislandy Lara.”

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