Jermell Charlo Declared ‘Champion in Recess’: What Happened to Him and Why WBC Stripped Him of His Super-Welterweight World Title?

Jermell Charlo became an undisputed champion on May 14, 2022. He fought last year. But it wasn’t a title defense. The bout on September 30 at the T Mobile Arena was for Canelo Alvarez‘s super middleweight undisputed title. Basically, it means that it will be more than 20 months since he last engaged in a formal title defense.

The WBO moved first. Due to the extended duration he took to fulfill his title defense obligations, they stripped him of their belt. Thus, from being an undisputed champion, Jermell Charlo became a unified champion. Now, per the news that’s been filtering in, WBC seems to have followed suit. They divested the ‘Iron Man’ of their belt. The sanctioning body appears to have taken additional measures by announcing a title clash for the now vacant belt. Nevertheless, they conferred upon Charlo the status of ‘Champion in Recess’.

A Break Gone Long: Jermell Charlo and the Tale of Receding Belts

Citing a few sources for the news update, yesterday evening Dan Rafael shared that Sebastian Fundora and the upcoming prospect from Ukraine, Serhii Bohachuk, will fight it out on March 30 on the intriguing Tim Tszyu and Keith Thurman main card in Las Vegas. The 26-year-old West Palm Beach, Florida-born Fundora is a former WBC (interim) light middleweight champion. Bohachuk, on the other hand, is a WBC Continental Americas light middleweight title holder.

WBC has reportedly informed PBC that the line-up is for the full title since Jermell Charlo has been declared a ‘Champion in Recess’. ” Per source, last night — after Fundora vs. Bohachuk was announced as being for the vacant WBC interim 154 title — the WBC notified PBC the March 30 fight would be sanctioned for the full and now vacant title as Jermell Charlo has been designated a “champion in recess,” the tweet read.

Now, as it stands, Jermell Charlo has only one championship belt: the WBA. Notably, opportunities for title defenses were present for the ‘Iron man’ to proceed with.

Lost chances?

Around the same time last year, on January 28, Charlo had a fight scheduled against the rising Aussie superstar Tim Tszyu. However, twice, hand injuries resulted in the postponement of the fight. Later, the ‘Iron Man’ received instructions to complete the title defense before September 30. But by that time, the Texas native had moved ahead with a decision to fight Canelo Alvarez. Resultingly, the WBO hoisted Tszyu as a full WBO light middleweight champion.

Later, in November, Jermell Charlo parted with the IBF title as well. The development came before the purse bid discussions were to commence for the mandatory title defense against the Russian Bakhram Murtazaliev, the number one contender.

It remains unclear why WBC picked the number two contender, Sebastian Fundora, instead of the one ranked above him, the unbeaten Charles Conwell. More so, ‘The Towering Inferno’ comes on the back of a career-first loss to Brian Mendoza last April. It remains to be seen for how long Jermell Charlo remains inactive. He will have to move fast to defend the last championship title he has in the 154-pound division. Alternatively, an announcement regarding the decision to move up the divisions should alleviate any suspense among fans.

Read More: Real Reason Jermell Charlo Is No Longer Undisputed Champion at 154 Despite His Fight Being for Canelo Alvarez’s Belts

What’s your take on the new decision that might have considerable impact on the light middleweight division? Please share your views with us in the comments below.

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