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Jermell Charlo calls out Crawford, Spence, Ennis: 'I want all the smoke'
Ring Magazine
ARTICLE
Manouk Akopyan
Manouk Akopyan
RingMagazine.com
Jermell Charlo calls out Crawford, Spence, Ennis: 'I want all the smoke'
Former Ring and undisputed junior middleweight champion Jermell Charlo appears ready for an in-ring return after more than a 25-month hiatus from the sport.

Charlo (35-2-1, 19 KOs) hasn't fought since stepping up two weight classes to challenge Canelo Alvarez in September 2023. At the time, Alvarez was the super middleweight champion, and Charlo got dropped before fighting to survive, hearing the final bell in a lackluster unanimous decision defeat.

Charlo, a 35-year-old from Houston, Texas, has tried to mostly keep a low profile ever since. But he's now screaming from the mountaintops and calling out all of the top names within reach hoping to get one of them to stick.

"I'm only interested in fights that make sense and make money. I want all the smoke," Charlo said during an Instagram Live session.

"I want smoke with Crawford. Get me the best – I'm in shape, I train, my lifestyle is on the move. Everything is great so why wouldn't I want the best? If they gave me an offer for Crawford, it would be an honor to get in the ring with him, I'd give him the best fight of today's era. I don't think that there's no other fight out there in the boxing world for him to make right now, it would be me. The best fight with Boots [Jaron Ennis] is me.


"I honestly think Errol Spence is a good fight - I like Errol - don't have any issues with him, alright. Vergil [Ortiz] is a great fighter and can fight, could go a long way. I ain't never even see the [Xander] Zayas kid.

"I just feel that I don't know what's happening with the boxing world. Like right after my era with Canelo – I started to watch boxing change, got my little distance and thought it was important to focus strictly on my family, kids, life and my future. I got hella [millions], come from a different era in boxing, I don't know if there are too many of us left.

"I really don't see anybody else [who should fight the top guys]. What do ya'll want me to do in the game?"

Charlo has been rather inactive in recent years; having fought just four times since 2020. When Charlo has graced the ring, however, he's proven to be one of the sport's more entertaining and skilled fighters.


His resume features a knockout win against Brian Castano (one split draw as well), avenging a close decision loss against Tony Harrison (KO11), and wins over Erickson Lubin (KO1), Austin Trout (MD), and Jeison Rosario (KO8).

Manouk Akopyan is The Ring's lead writer. Follow him on X and Instagram: @ManoukAkopyan.
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