Jermall Charlo is talking about a third world title while leaving the door open to retirement. The 36-year-old former champion at 154 and 160 pounds called his October 17 fight with Koen Mazoudier part of “the last run” during a media scrum for the Las Vegas card.
“This the last run. I’m putting all my effort into it,” Jermall said. “If God wants me to keep going, I’ll keep going. But at this point, I don’t have nothing to prove. I’ve completed every task, and I’m just ready to, you know, go on the other side of boxing.”
Charlo wants another fight before the end of 2026 and mentioned the vacant WBO super middleweight title. That sounds ambitious from a fighter who has competed only three times from 2021 onward. His last bout was against Thomas LaManna in May 2025.
He said he has spent roughly 26 weeks in camp, partly because his July fight with Mazoudier fell through. That does not mean his body is breaking down. It does make the proposed quick return a question worth asking: after years of long breaks, can Charlo fight in October and get back into the ring before January?
The vacant belt is another tempting shortcut. Charlo did not say he would avoid a champion or a leading contender, and there is no evidence he has been promised a title shot. But beating Mazoudier would hardly settle his standing among Christian Mbilli, Osleys Iglesias and the other serious fighters at 168. A vacant title opportunity based chiefly on his former status would leave that question unanswered.
Charlo is also fighting beneath Sebastian Fundora’s title defense at The Cosmopolitan, a smaller stage than the one he once occupied. His long absences help explain the change without proving what networks or promoters think of his drawing power.
Jermall hasn’t said when he’ll retire. But if this is his last run, he needs to face a serious contender soon. Beating Mazoudier would get him fighting again; his next opponent would show how serious he is about winning a title at 168.
One loss might be enough for Charlo to walk away. He is already saying he has nothing left to prove and has completed everything he set out to do. If a hard fight goes against him, will he want to take the punishment and spend another year working his way back to a title shot?
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