Jermell Charlo and Errol Spence Jr. are in discussions for a 154-pound fight that would take place next year, The Ring's Mike Coppinger reported on the new weekly "Inside the Ring" show.

A deal isn't imminent but the sides are inching closer, Coppinger reported.

Charlo (35-2-1, 19 KOs) and Spence (28-1, 22 KOs) are pals. They sparred numerous rounds in the past and trained side by side on countless occasions under the watchful eye of trainer Derrick James.

And both went on to win multiple titles, with Spence collecting three of the four major belts at 147 pounds and Charlo becoming undisputed champion in the 154-pound division.

However, neither currently holds a belt and both are coming off lopsided defeats and long layoffs. Charlo was outclassed by Canelo Alvarez in September 2023 in a failed attempt to become a two-division undisputed champion. Spence was brutally stopped by Terence Crawford in a title-unification bout in July 2023.

Neither man has fought since.

And both have remained mostly quiet, dropping only snippets of training videos on social media. Neither fighter is being trained by James, as the renowned coach parted ways with both former champions for various reasons.