Why Jermall Charlo Should Fight Caleb Plant Instead of Canelo Alvarez

890 days. That is how many days it took Jermall Charlo to conquer his woes and return to the fold of boxing. But his comeback has been far from ideal. After a weak outing against Jose Benavidez Jr., the American is rumored to be in line to face Canelo Alvarez in a potential money grab during the Cinco de Mayo weekend. Has the American decided to turn around his career swiftly, or is he steering it toward doom?

It seems that he might be committing a blunder in choosing his next opponent. The elder of the Charlo twins, Jermall, jumped into the foray and is currently leading the race to bag Alvarez’s signature for a possible May 4 showdown. The showdown has the flavor of revenge, as the Mexican champion recently brushed aside Jermell Charlo with ease last September. Now, the elder brother is stepping up to restore his brother’s honor. But what about his own, which Caleb Plant desecrated?

Jermall Charlo vs. Caleb Plant: a beef vs. revenge storyline

‘Sweethands’ and ‘Hitman’ have a long-standing beef that reached a tipping point last year in July. During the buildup to Terence Crawford vs. Errol Spence Jr., Plant, and Charlo had an ugly altercation backstage. While Charlo tried to badmouth Plant’s marriage and yanked his beard, two brutal blows came down on Charlo’s face and the crowd had to step in to placate the two boxers. The visuals still make the rounds on the internet, and the humiliation remains unfulfilled.

Both fighters have called out each other on numerous occasions, and the fans have also anticipated a grudge match to materialize somewhere in 2024. Plant also believes the same, having last fought and lost to David Benavidez Jr. in March 2023. The hypothetical fight between them carries inertia and buzz, which will help make the fight more marketable. Contrary to that, a revenge fight against the undisputed super middleweight champion makes little sense.

Moreover, beef and a slap is a better storyline than a redemption fight with a predictable outcome. Retribution will be the only angle the PBC might have in the tank to push a fight between Charlo and Alvarez. While a fragment of loyalist Charlo twins fans would find the proposed fight appealing, it might not have enough to move the needle. Otherwise, Jermall Charlo vs. Caleb Plant makes more sense and also stands to gain legitimacy from the fans.

Giving fans what they want

What do the fans want from Canelo Alvarez, the face of boxing and the unrivaled lynchpin of 168 pounds? To give his mandatory challenger of two years, David Benavidez Jr., a shot at the title. They won’t bicker if he picks a young, talented Jaime Munguia or ventures out to settle scores with Dmitry Bivol. But they are angry and agitated with the possibility of him facing Jermall Charlo.

The fans are simply not swayed by the idea of Alvarez once again fighting someone from another division. They are not interested if it’s not ‘The Mexican Monster’. Despite Jermall Charlo signing the contract to face Alvarez last year, the fans are not convinced whether the fight would be competitive. The fight is beyond expiry and is a couple of years late, as is the case with the boxing world.

Watch This Story: What happened between Jermall Charlo and Jermall Charlo? Why Twin Brothers are at a distance?

For Jermall Charlo, the fans would have liked it if he had gotten into the mojo first and dusted off the ring rust. But that’s again not the case. Undoubtedly, Alvarez vs. Charlo will sell well and rack up millions of dollars in revenue. The WBC middleweight champion will have his bank account stacked. But what will he do with a loss on his record and a dismal performance if things go south?

Where does Jermall Charlo go after Canelo Alvarez?

Where does the 33-year-old boxer’s future lie? Is he going to stay at 168 lbs? Isn’t a loss a worse-off start in a new division, if he loses to Alvarez? Will he come down to 160 pounds despite not defending his WBC strap since June 2021? Won’t it hurt his boxing resume and stocks if he were to continue again at middleweight?

Charlo is a bigger man at 160, and his move up would have worked out better if he had fought Caleb Plant first. Even if he wanted to take home a hefty paycheck, Plant, a former IBF champion, would be a smart choice. If Charlo’s primary aim was to secure financial stability and step away from the sport, then the Alvarez fight would align with that perspective. Alvarez is indeed the prize everyone desires in the end. So, shouldn’t Charlo have first fought Plant or any other fighter, and then Alvarez in September 2024?

Read More: “He’ll Do Anything to Stay Away”: Jose Benavidez Sr. Calls Out “Scared” Canelo Alvarez for Avoiding David Benavidez Fight, Demands Sanctioning Bodies to Be Fair

What do you make of this rumored fight between Canelo Alvarez and Jermall Charlo? Do you believe Charlo should have picked Caleb Plant instead? Let us know in the comments below.