Derrick James, the trainer of Jermell Charlo, is confident that his fighter’s size won't be a disadvantage when he faces the formidable Canelo Alvarez, the undisputed super middleweight champion. The bout is scheduled for September 30th at the Chase Center. Despite concerns from some quarters about Jermell’s size, especially given Canelo’s reputation for power, James believes that bulking up isn't necessary. He argues that just because a fighter is moving up in weight divisions doesn’t mean they need to gain significantly. Drawing from his experience, James noted that smaller fighters spar with bigger opponents regularly, emphasizing that Jermell doesn’t need to match Canelo’s size to beat him.
However, there are those who believe James might be overlooking the challenges ahead. They point to the recent loss of James’ other fighter, Errol Spence, to Terence Crawford as a potential blind spot in his training approach. Critics argue that if Jermell doesn’t add 15-20 lbs, he might be at a significant disadvantage against Canelo, known for his explosive punches. The consensus is that a smaller Jermell might be vulnerable to Canelo’s body shots and uppercuts.
James remains unfazed by the skepticism. He envisions a scenario where the fight is a back-and-forth contest, with both fighters trying to impose their will. He believes that for Jermell to succeed, he must prevent Canelo from being at his best. Reflecting on the broader implications of the fight, James stated that a victory for Jermell would cement his place as one of the greatest pound-for-pound fighters. However, some feel that James might be too focused on the potential accolades and not enough on the tactical challenge of defeating Canelo.
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