Jermell Charlo shakes up super-welterweight scene by vacating IBF title post WBO strip-off

Jermell Charlo tumbles down to junior middleweight status as champion, after a second title strip-off.

Jermell Charlo shakes up super-welterweight scene by vacating IBF title post WBO strip-off

Jermell Charlo demotes down from two titular spots, after not facing Bakhram Murtazaliev (Source: IMAGO)

Jermell Charlo finds himself in a jam, in regards to his world titles. The former WBA, WBC, IBF, and WBO super welterweight champion had lost his undisputed status after a strip-off of his WBO belt. Although not at stake, the champion lost his “undisputed” moniker before the commencement of his bout with Canelo Alvarez.

Charlo recently moved up two divisions to challenge undisputed super middleweight Canelo, which turned out to be a lopsided decision win. Subsequently, Tim Tszyu got elevated thus, to the WBO super-welterweight world champion. Charlo has now lost his IBF belt in not facing Bakhram Murtazaliev. Online boxing editor for talkSport, Michael Benson, has touched roots on the same.

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This isn’t the first time the boxer has had to vacate a titular spot. Before facing Canelo Alvarez, this also happened in 2017. As the undefeated junior middleweight champion, Charlo vacated his International Boxing Federation title. The Jarrett Hurd-Tony Harrison fight was thus elevated to a world title fight. Mentioning this instance, Benson took to X and wrote:

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Jermell Charlo has now vacated his IBF super-welterweight world title, with Bakhram Murtazaliev vs Jack Culcay likely to be ordered for the vacant belt. Charlo was previously stripped of his WBO crown, but remains WBA & WBC world champion.

The process for the WBO super-welterweight gold was initiated in Aug. 2021; when the WBO installed the unbeaten Tszyu, at 23-0, as challenger for then-champion Brian Castano. Charlo had knocked out Castano and unified his titles. But a bout between him and Tszyu never came to fruition, due to an injury, earlier this year.

After Alvarez, Charlo was consequently to face IBF mandatory Murtazaliev. But with the current strip-off, Murtazaliev vs. Jack Culcay is set to be a more likely scenario. Meanwhile, brother Jermall Charlo has expressed his wish to avenge his brother’s skid.

Jermell Charlo avoids Bakhram Murtazaliev and goes down to junior middleweight after dual strip-offs

Jermell Charlo is still the true junior middleweight champion, but he is now two belts away from being the undisputed champion. The first strip-off came in the form of his WBO belt, against and before facing Canelo Alvarez. Now, Charlo vacated the IBF title instead of opting for his mandatory defense against Bakhram Murtazaliev.

Jermell Charlo vacates IBF title, opting out of facing Bakhram Murtazaliev
Jermell Charlo vacates IBF title, opting out of facing Bakhram Murtazaliev (Source: Boxingscene.com/ Pinterest

BoxingScene.com recently confirmed that the boxer relinquished the IBF 154lbs title rather than make an overdue mandatory bout. An IBF spokesman confirmed the same. A purse bid hearing, for Tuesday, thus saw cancelation in light of the circumstances. Murtazaliev will most likely square off next with Germany’s Jack Culcay. Both boxers are the highest-ranking contenders within the division.

Murtazaliev has been the mandatory contender as of Nov. 2019. His team, entailing promoter Main Events, and manager Egis Kilmas, previously dealt with Premier Boxing Champions (PBC). The goal was to facilitate Charlo to further unify the 154lbs divisional golds in the hope of a face-off. But that has been side-stepped over, and over.

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