“He Knows What He Is Up Against”: Mayweather Promotions CEO Remains Brutally Honest on Why Jermell Charlo Is Not an Easy Fight for Canelo Alvarez

Jermell Charlo will fight Canelo Alvarez for a shot at the super middleweight title on the 30th of September. This is the third time Canelo is going to defend his undisputed status. Canelo last defended his title against John Ryder, the interim WBO champ, winning the match via a unanimous decision. This is going to be the first fight of his three-fight deal, which he signed with the PBC for $100 million dollars. Fans wanted to see Canelo’s rematch with Dmitry Bivol after his loss at the hands of the Russian, but it never materialized. Some have criticized Canelo for choosing an easy target in Jermell since the latter had his last fight back in 2022. However, according to a renowned name within the sport, the fight is not going to be as easy as everyone thinks.

Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions, agrees that this is one of the biggest fights of the year. According to him, it is a fight, unlike others. Jermell Charlo is making his way into the 168-pound division, two divisions above his own. He is the undisputed light middleweight champion at the moment. In a recent conversation, Ellerbe explained why the ‘Iron Man’ is going to be a tough opponent for Canelo.

The Undisputed vs. Undisputed: Mayweather Promotion CEO weighs in

The two will square off against one another at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas at the end of this month. In the midst of this, FightHype.com got a hold of Leonard Ellerbe, who spoke at length about the fight and his take on it. And, as always, he was brutally honest in his opinions.

Speaking to the channel, Ellerbe said that Canelo is going to have “a chip on his shoulder.” This is the reason “his performance is not what the public would expect.”

He also disagreed with people who think this fight is going to be one-sided because of his injury. Ellerbe said, “I think with this fight he is going to lay it on the line.” According to him, this version of Canelo is also going to be the “best version” that we have seen in a while.

So what about Jermell? Ellerbe explained that Canelo “has a tough task at hand” with Jermell. According to him, the ‘Iron Man’ is going to be a very tough opponent for Canelo. He also expressed his disdain for people who are pushing Charlo aside and not giving him props for going up two weight classes, which he thinks “is dumb.”

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He added that Jermell’s “confidence is at an all-time high because he knows what he is up against.” He explains that what makes this fight so great is that “both guys have something to prove.”

The issue with Canelo’s injury has become the talking point for many, especially as the fight draws closer. However, what are other renowned figures in boxing saying about the fight?

B-Hop Makes His Prediction

Bernard Hopkins, the legendary veteran boxer, recently made a prediction while on a preview show for Fight Hub TV. On the show, B-Hop predicted that Charlo had over 85% chance of beating Canelo. When asked the reason for such a high rating, Hopkins explained, “Because, to my understanding, he’s not going in there to prove something, which would fall into Canelo’s hands. But he’s going to go in there and let him know, establish in the first round. That he belongs, he’s tough and he’s going to show him that his time came and gone.”

Judging from his confidence at the recent press conference, it hardly looks like his time is over. However, all of this is something that Canelo and Jermell will have to decide when they step into the ring at the end of the month. Who do you think will win? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

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