Jermell Charlo Bulks Up For Canelo, Jaron Ennis, Tim Bradley And Isaac Cruz React

Jermell Charlo has begun his preparations for the Canelo Alvarez fight by bulking up to make the super-middleweight limit of 168 lbs. 

Charlo currently fights at junior middleweight, as the undisputed champion has never fought beyond 154 lbs. Therefore, jumping up two weight classes to fight the undisputed Canelo is no mean feat.

Not only that, but Charlo has not fought in over a year since his win over Brian Castano. However, recent training footage shows that Charlo is more than ready. 

The footage shows Charlo with some weights with chains around his neck, as he attempts to gain weight. Despite being the underdog due to the size, Jaron Ennis does not see this as a major factor.

Instead, ‘Boots’ was adamant that Charlo’s natural weight was 180 lbs, thus negating any worries over the weight class. 

This was on the basis that fighting at super middleweight will not require Charlo to drop too many pounds. After all, it is true to say that Charlo is a massive 154-pounder. 

“He fights at 154, so he probably walks around at 180. He might even be stronger at 168. He doesn’t have to cut as much weight. Basically, he’s putting on a little bit more muscle and things like that. I don’t know. It’s going to be a great fight,” Ennis

Cruz/Tim Bradley React

Meanwhile, Isaac Cruz has also seen a confident Charlo coming into this fight. In a historic bout that will see two undisputed champions going face to face, victory for Charlo would be a massive upset against the four-division champion.

Although it will be a tall order, Cruz envisages a Charlo who is more than ready. 

“I think that if Charlo took on this challenge it is because he knows that he can cause an upset. We are going to get a great fight because Charlo is also very strong, seasoned and more than anything he’s motivated,” Cruz said

And one way in which Charlo could pull that off is to utilize his weapons. Charlo will be the taller man, but it is the vulnerabilities that Canelo showed against John Ryder that will be crucial.

Tim Bradley expanded on how Ryder was able to use his uppercut, as he went the distance with Canelo.

“I can tell you one place where I see Canelo vulnerable, and it’s crazy because in his last fight, you saw Ryder exploit it, and it worked. It was the uppercut.

“It was the uppercut, splitting that guard, and it worked, and I know Charlo has an uppercut, and I was hoping he would throw it more often when he fought against Castano, but he didn’t. He threw it occasionally, and then when they threw, it landed,” Bradley stated