Jermall Charlo moves toward Resendiz title fight without buildup

Collapsed Jaime Munguia talks open path for voluntary WBA defense

Jermall Charlo is in line for a super middleweight title shot at WBA champion Armando Resendiz. The opportunity has developed without Charlo proving himself against the division’s top contenders.

The fight emerged after negotiations between Resendiz and Jaime Munguia collapsed, leaving the titleholder without an opponent. Charlo quickly became the most convenient option, largely because both fighters operate under the same Premier Boxing Champions structure. Being under the same PBC structure removes the usual negotiation delays.

Collapsed Munguia talks open the door for Charlo

Charlo, now 35, has fought only twice since 2021, and neither appearance established him among the division’s active contenders. His victories over Thomas LaManna and Jose Benavidez Jr. allowed him to remain unbeaten, but those opponents were not positioned near the top of the super middleweight standings. The wins kept his record intact but did little to shift his standing at 168.

Resendiz arrived in a different way. That win over Caleb Plant put him in the title picture and gave him the kind of recent result that typically leads to title opportunities or defenses against proven contenders. That performance provided evidence of his readiness to compete at the highest level of the division.

The WBA’s top-ranked contender, Bektemir Melikuziev, remains part of the championship rotation and is scheduled to fight soon. His activity gives the WBA room to approve a voluntary defense. That timing creates an opening that Charlo can enter without having to move through the same sequence of eliminators or contender fights.

In this sport, activity matters. So do results at the weight.

Charlo’s name still carries weight from his middleweight run. At 168, however, recognition alone does not settle who belongs in the ring on title night. This opportunity has appeared because he is available, recognizable, and easy to match within the existing promotional structure, rather than because of recent results at super middleweight.