The boxing ring, where braggadocio meets brawn, witnessed a peculiar happening, one that didn’t involve gloves, mouth guards, or referee instructions. Fresh from his triumphant bout against John Ryder, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, the undisputed super-Middleweight champion, found himself in an unfamiliar situation.

Yet this wasn’t a new training regime or a surprise opponent for a title defense, but rather an unexpected challenge broadcast from a very familiar setting: the audience. A claim so bold, it ricocheted off the boxing community and headed straight into the realms of social media frenzy. Jermall Charlo, the holder of the light-Middleweight title, while part of the crowd, managed to steal the spotlight.

The verbal sparring off-ring: Charlo, Shields and fans weigh in

In the midst of the fight, Jermall Charlo, was found saying, “I could beat his ass. I could beat Canelo, man,” drawing immediate attention from every corner of the boxing fraternity. This, coming from a boxer who’s held his own in a highly competitive division, certainly had its weight and was bound to get tongues wagging.

The challenge did not go unnoticed in the boxing community. Claressa Shields, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and undisputed Middleweight world champion, promptly responded to Charlo’s tweet with an enigmatic, “It’s up!!!!!”

Top Stories

Floyd Mayweather Roasted After “Pathetic” Attempt to Impress Jay-Z During Lakers Game Backfires

Adin Ross Sounds Alarm on Jake Paul’s CTE Risk Ahead of Anthony Joshua Fight

KSI Confirms Final Verdict on Jake Paul Fight as He Reveals Why He Skipped Logan’s Wedding

Fact Check: Is Boxing Legend Thomas ‘Tommy Hitman’ Hearns Missing?

Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua Ticket Sales Struggle as Fans Question Netflix Fight’s Appeal

Fans immediately took to Twitter, sparking a spirited debate over Charlo’s declaration. “Castano had him on wobble legs…imagine what canelo gna do,” remarked a Twitter user blest_1, in reference to Charlo’s previous fight.

Taniyah Price was less optimistic about Charlo’s chances, tweeting “Charlo is not winning at all 😂😂😂😂.”

However, some supporters, like the user known as 🧙🏿‍♂️, took a tactical view of the potential matchup, stating, “People not realizing charlo got a gas tank and floats through the ring for 12 rounds and can jump in & out with combos similar to how bivol beat Canelo… now if charlo try to sit and bang then it’s plays in Canelo favor.”

Another user, Dammit, reacted to Shields’ tweet asking, “Lmao. Who r u going for champ?”

Regardless of the differing opinions, some fans chose to back Charlo for his self-belief. User esprit de corps declared, “He believe in himself so I’m riding with him,” showing a vote of confidence in the light-Middleweight champion.

As we wait for this highly anticipated bout, one question hangs in the air, providing a food for thought for boxing enthusiasts: Does Charlo genuinely stand a chance against Canelo, or is his claim just a testament to his audacity?

Also read: “It’s Canelo vs Everybody”: Canelo Alvarez Makes a Bold Statement Welcoming All Challengers After Signing a Three Fight Deal With a New Promotion

We invite our readers to share their thoughts on this topic. Is this a fight you would want to witness?

Watch this story: Top guests on Mike Tyson’s podcast