It’s been a while since Jermell Charlo ruled over the junior middleweight division.

Back in 2023, Charlo was the undisputed king of his weight class. As he walked past his fellow 154-pounders, his Ring, IBF, WBA, WBC, and WBO titles dragged behind him. No matter who his competition was, it was clear that he was the man to beat.

Ostensibly tired of facing the same old recycled faces, Charlo (35-2-1, 19 KOs) decided to abandon his junior middleweight throne to challenge Canelo Alvarez at 168 pounds.

Ultimately, Charlo’s performance at that higher weight was forgettable. But once he was thoroughly beaten, many assumed that his days at 154 pounds were essentially over. It was a pragmatic thought process. Charlo spent countless months putting on muscle. And, the sport of boxing has a not-so-pleasant history of fighters not being the same once they decide to move up in weight.

Fighting at 168 pounds might seem absurd but competing in the middleweight division made all the sense in the world. It would also give him the opportunity to become a two-division champion.

During his time away from his old weight class, Charlo’s five titles were scattered into various hands. Sebastian Fundora grabbed his WBC and WBO belts, Terence Crawford is in possession of his old WBA strap, Bakhram Murtazaliev is holding firm to Charlo’s old IBF title, and The Ring strap he grew fond of is now vacant.

Still, despite being beltless, Charlo believes that he should be viewed as a champion. And while many were convinced that he would never make an appearance at junior middleweight ever again, he’s here to prove that not only will he return, but that he’s just getting started.

“You know what I’m here for,” said Charlo on his social media account. “154 mines until I’m finish.”