Charlo, now 35, has fought only twice in the last five years, and neither win established him as a real factor in the division. His victories over Thomas LaManna and Jose Benavidez Jr. came against fighters who were not viewed as serious threats to win a world title. Those fights kept his record intact, but they did not move him closer to earning a championship opportunity through competition.
Title shot without eliminator
Boxing insider Fernando Sabatini reported the fight is likely to be announced soon.
“According to what I found out and what it seems to me, it’s very likely that the fight they announce next Thursday or Friday will be Armando Reséndiz vs. Jermall Charlo,” Sabatini wrote on X.
The opening emerged after negotiations between Resendiz and Jaime Munguia collapsed. Munguia was removed from the fight after reportedly pricing himself out, forcing Resendiz’s team to look for a replacement opponent. Charlo became the easiest solution because both fighters operate under the Premier Boxing Champions banner, which removes promotional resistance.
Resendiz earned his position by beating Caleb Plant over twelve rounds, a win that immediately elevated his standing in the division. Charlo has not beaten anyone at that level since moving up to super middleweight. That difference explains why this fight exists because of availability and name recognition, not because Charlo forced his way into contention.
Mandatory still waiting
The WBA’s No. 1 contender, Bektemir Melikuziev, remains technically first in line, but his scheduled fight this weekend creates flexibility for the sanctioning body. Melikuziev’s activity allows the WBA to approve Resendiz vs. Charlo first, especially if the winner agrees to face Melikuziev afterward.
From a business standpoint, the fight is easy to finalize because both fighters are under the same promotional structure. From a sporting standpoint, Charlo is receiving an opportunity without having beaten a single top super middleweight.
This is the type of title shot that only becomes available when a fighter’s past reputation carries more influence than his recent work.
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