Jermall Charlo (32-0, 19 KOs) weighed in on Friday for his catchweight bout at 166.4 pounds, exceeding the 163-pound limit, against Jose Benavidez Jr. (28-2, 19 KOs) scheduled for Saturday on Showtime Pay-Per-View.
The management of Jermall and Benavidez Jr. are currently negotiating the financial terms to ensure the fight proceeds, with Benavidez Jr. potentially earning additional prize money if the fight goes ahead.
It’s worth noting that this fight is a non-title bout and serves as a tune-up for Charlo, who hasn’t been in the ring for some time. Jermall Charlo’s trainer, Jose Benavidez Jr., recently revealed that Charlo knew in advance that he wouldn’t meet the 163-pound catchweight limit for this fight.
Despite the weight discrepancy, if Benavidez Jr. loses to the undefeated Jermall Charlo on Saturday, he might attribute the outcome to Charlo’s higher weight, providing a possible explanation to his fans. However, it seems clear that Benavidez Jr. is at a disadvantage against Jermall regardless of the weight difference.
Jermall Charlo, who hasn’t fought in 28 months, weighed in for the 163-pound catchweight bout at 166.4 pounds, 3.4 pounds over the limit, for a 10-round match against Benavidez Jr. on the David Benavidez vs. Demetrius Andrade undercard at Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas.
Representatives for Jermall Charlo and Jose Benavidez Jr. are negotiating financial terms to move forward with the Charlo vs. Benavidez fight after Charlo failed by a 3.4-pound margin at the 163-pound catchweight on Saturday. Officials said there is. @SInow
— Chris Mannix (@SIChrisMannix) November 24, 2023
It remains to be seen what penalty Charlo will face for exceeding the weight limit, as there is a significant weigh-in penalty, as stated by Jose Sr.
Regardless of the weigh-in issue, the outcome of the actual fight remains unchanged. Benavidez Jr. will still face Jermall and is expected to face a tough challenge, particularly if he employs his usual aggressive fighting style.
Benavidez Jr. is in dire need of a victory to maintain his relevance as an opponent for world champion fighters. His previous losses to Danny Garcia and Terrence Crawford highlight the importance of a win in this upcoming match.
Jermall Charlo will be aiming for a strong performance on Saturday to prepare for a potential fight against Canelo Alvarez on Cinco de Mayo next May. A convincing victory for Jermall could bolster his chances of securing a match against Canelo.
