Broadcaster Al Bernstein has described the Canelo Alvarez vs. Jermell Charlo undercard as the ‘best’ he has ever seen.
The headlining fighters will face each other on September 30th, 2023, in a battle of two undisputed champions. Charlo will jump up from 154 pounds to try and take Alvarez’s undisputed titles at 168. Despite that fight having lots on the line, the rest of the card caught Bernstein’s eye.
The standout fights include Erickson Lubin vs. Jesus Ramos. The former has two losses on his record, which stands at 25-2, only to Sebastian Fundora and Jermell Charlo, the current undisputed champion at 154. Meanwhile, Ramos is a rising star who is undefeated with 20 wins, 16 by way of knockout.
“This is a fantastic match up. Both men are action fighters with pop in their punches. Lubin has been near the top of the 154-pound division for years but has not broken through to win a title. He had a good win after his loss to Sebastian Fundora. Lubin fights the toughest opposition available to him at 154 and here he’s doing it again. The 23 year old Ramos is thought by many to be the future at 154 pounds,” Bernstein
Elsewhere, Elijah Garcia faces Jose Resendiz in a battle of boxing’s two rising stars. The two middleweights are in great form, as Garcia has four knockouts in his last five fights. As for Resendiz, his last fight was a big knockout win over Jarrett Hurd.
“Garcia, at age 20, has already scored a KO win over contender Amilcar Vidal in a wildly exciting match. He is a power punching lefty who overcomes slow starts to close the show. Resendiz scored a signature win over former 154-pound champ Jarrett Hurd in an action-packed bout…This is going to be a shootout,” Bernstein
But the biggest fight outside of the main event is the bout between Yordenis Ugas and Mario Barrios. The two former champions will battle it out for the WBC interim belt at 147. Ugas will have his first fight since being stopped by Errol Spence Jr. in the 11th round, while Barrios enters the ring following his loss to Keith Thurman. Victory will put the winner in line for a title shot against Terence Crawford.
“This fight has enormous implications for him and he will fight that way. He’s an excellent ring technician. Barrios is still looking for a major win at 147 after holding the 140-pound title. He fought well but lost to Keith Thurman and this is his chance to show he belongs in the division’s top tier. The style matchup is a good one,” Bernstein
And in preparation for that fight, Ugas and Barrios had their media workouts on September 19th, 2023. After they showed off their skills, this is what both fighters had to say.
Key Quotes
.@YordenisUgas invited media to his open workout today as he prepares for Mario Barrios in his first fight since losing his title in 2022.#UgasBarrios will be part of the #CaneloCharlo @ShowtimeBoxing PPV event on 9/30. Order now: https://t.co/G4bAeXyEAd pic.twitter.com/ypaqVxBMnx
— Premier Boxing Champions (@premierboxing) September 19, 2023
“It was both physically and emotionally tough after the Errol Spence Jr. fight. Emotionally I had to carry that loss with me. Now I can redeem myself and put it all in the past. I always knew that I would come back after the fight. My eye got stronger after the surgery and now I feel ready.
“I’m just focused on my fight. I have no clue what Crawford may do with the WBC belt. I’m doing my thing and that’s what I plan to keep doing,” Ugas
“It’s a really hard fight, but those are the type of fights that I like to take. I want to continue to test myself and my ability and my skill in the ring.” Never one to back down from a fight, @boxer_barrios is looking forward to the challenge ahead. #UgasBarrios #CaneloCharlo pic.twitter.com/5HHecs12LY
— Premier Boxing Champions (@premierboxing) September 19, 2023
“I’m preparing myself to the best of my ability. We have a very good game plan that we’re getting ready for Ugas. It’s a really hard fight, but those are the type of fights that I like to take. I want to continue to test myself and my ability and my skill in the ring.
“A win in this fight means everything for me and my career right now. It puts me at the top of the division with the best welterweights out there and gets me closer to the bigger world title fights,” Barrios