WBC Finally Makes Right Decision On Jermall Charlo

On Tuesday night, the World Boxing Council finally did what should have been done long ago – they stripped middleweight champion Jermall Charlo due to failure to defend and after his latest legal troubles near Houston, Texas. In so doing, the WBC recognised interim champion Carlos Adames as their full world champion.

Here is the WBC’s late Tuesday night statement regarding the unbeaten Charlo, who hadn’t defended their title in nearly three years.

The WBC Has Stripped Middleweight Champ Jermall Charlo

Carlos Adames confirmed as WBC Middleweight Champion. https://t.co/yaNZ8o9JKj pic.twitter.com/7RwUbAuw6L

— World Boxing Council (@WBCBoxing) May 8, 2024

Charlo’s Inactivity

Charlo’s last defence of the 160 lb. championship (his fourth) came in June of 2021 when he defeated Juan Montiel. Since that time, he’s had a myriad of personal problems including divorce proceedings and a previous arrest mixed in.

Charlo, 33-0, 22 KOs, only returned to the ring after a two-plus year absence last November on the undercard of the David Benavidez-Demetrius Andrade pay-per-view. And, even that fight was a mess, as he was to a fought at a contracted weight of 163 lb, but came in more than 3 lb. over that limit.

Still, the 33-year-old Charlo looked good enough to garner a 10-round decision over Jose Benavidez Jr. However, almost comically, he said in the post-fight aftermath that he had no intention of fighting any longer as a middleweight and would stay at super middleweight. This, as many believed he was still angling for a shot at Undisputed 168 lb. champion Canelo Alvarez.

Yet, the WBC did nothing over the past few months to elevate Adames, 23-1, 18 KOs, who has been their interim champion since kayoing the same Montiel in October 2022. Instead, the 30-year-old Dominican Adames has been made to wait until Charlo’s latest problems all but forced the WBC’s hand.

Charlo’s Latest Arrest

That came on Monday evening, when Charlo was arrested by Suburban Houston, Texas, authorities on charges of driving under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident with property damage to another vehicle. He was tracked down after a short high-speed chase and later booked in the Pearland, TX,  jail with a blood alcohol level of 0.15, almost double the Texas legal limit.

Charlo was released on Tuesday on a $9,500 Bond, with the newest legal trouble further clouding his future, but it made things simple for the WBC.

Adames was last in the ring defending the interim title with a ninth-round KO of former 154 lb. world champ Julian Williams last June. However, it’s believed he could be part of an upcoming Premier Boxing Champions show later this Summer, now defending the full middleweight title.