Jermall Charlo needed significant challenge. And he reportedly has one.
Charlo, the middleweight titleholder, and contender Sergiy Derevyanchenko are in the final stages of negotiations for a fight in either September or October, according to The Athletic. No site or network was reported.
Charlo was elevated to the WBC’s full titleholder after Canelo Alvarez was designated “franchise” champion in June of last year but, in five fights since moving up from 154 ponds, he hadn’t faced a serious challenge.
Derevyanchenko (13-2, 10 KOs) should be a genuine test. The durable, well-schooled Ukrainian lost close decisions in title fights against Daniel Jacobs and Gennadiy Golovkin to build a reputation as one of the best in and around the division.
He reportedly also had received an offer to fight Canelo Alvarez, presumably at 168 pounds. The Athletic is reporting that Derevyanchenko wasn’t offered enough to take that fight.
Charlo (30-0, 22 KOs) has beaten Jorge Sebastian Heiland, Hugo Centeno Jr., Matt Korobov, Brandon Adams and Denis Hogan at 160 pounds, which led some to criticize his choice of opponents at middleweight.
No one will be critical of Derevyanchenko.