휴스턴, TEXAS (2월 16, 2017) – Undefeated champion Jermall Charlo relinquished the IBF junior middleweight title this afternoon in order to pursue bigger challenges and another world championship in the middleweight division.

Charlo, 26, who lives and trains in Houston, has a sterling record of 25-0 와 19 KOS 호텔. He won the title with a TKO victory over Cornelius Bundrage on Sept. 12, 2015, 그리고 성공적으로 세 번을 옹호, defeating Wilky Campfort, former 154-pound champion Austin Trout and top contender Julian Williams. Charlo leaves the division after an impressive KO victory over Williams at the Galen Center on the USC campus in Los Angeles on Dec. 10, 2016.

토니 해리슨 (24-1, 20 KOS 호텔) and Jarrett Hurd (19-0, 13 KOS 호텔) will battle for the vacant IBF 154-pound title on the undercard of Deontay Wilder defending his heavyweight title against Gerald Washington on primetime on Premier Boxing Champions on FOX and FOX Deportes at the Legacy Arena in Birmingham, 알라바마에 토요일, 2월 25. 방송 범위는에서 시작 8 시이. AND/5 시이. PT.

Charlo’s twin brother, Jermell, still has the WBC 154-pound title and will defend it against Charles Hatley at the MGM National Harbor in Maryland on 토요일, 행진 11.

“I’ve been thinking about moving to 160 pounds for a while now,” Charlo 말했다. “It was a struggle for me to make the weight for the last title fight. Once I captured the title I defended it immediately, because I wasn’t sure how long I could hold the weight. I held it an extra year to fight Austin Trout and Julian Williams. I feel there are bigger and better things for me at 160 where I can still hold my weight and be stronger. The idea of being a two-time world champion is a big goal for me.

“If there were a big fight at 154 pounds left for me, I’d stick around and wait for it. But there isn’t anything there that can be made quickly. And I wouldn’t fight my brother or my gym mate and close friend, Erislandy Lara.”

Charlo’s trainer, 로니 방패, is in favor of the move up to a higher division.

“It’s a move that has to be made,” 방패는 말했다. “He was definitely having trouble making that weight. No sense in holding himself down in making that weight. Going up to 160 pounds is a must. I think he does well there. He’s big enough to handle the weight. It’s not like we have to do anything special to compete at 160 파운드. That’s basically what he is – a middleweight.”

Charlo doesn’t anticipate any problems with moving up. He plans to make his middleweight debut soon.

“I’ve been training for a couple weeks now. It’s like a mini-camp. I’ve been shaking out,” Charlo 말했다. “We’re looking at May to be completely ready. I’m a big athlete already. I’m just looking forward to taking my superstar status and competing with the big boys up there.”