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The WBC stripped inactive middleweight Jermall Charlo (32-0, 22 KOs) of his title, confirming Carlos Adames (23-1, 18 KOs) as the new 160-pound champion.
Jermall, who has not defended his title for three years since 2021, will be ranked super middleweight by the World Boxing Council. It was there that Charlo, 33, last fought in November against Jose Benavidez Jr.
WBC supports Charlo's needs
According to the WBC statement, “The WBC will work closely with the PBC to ensure the best course of action to meet Jermall's needs at this time.”
Adames will make his first defense of his WBC middleweight title next month against Terrell Gausha (24-3-1, 12 KOs) on the undercard of the Gervonta Davis vs. Frank Martin fight on June 15 in Las Vegas.
Inaction leads to name change
It's been a while since the WBC could strip Jermall Charlo of his 160-pound title because he's held the belt without defending it since defeating Juan Macias Montiel in June 2021.
The WBC showed great patience with Charlo in allowing him to hold the belt as long as they did, as many boxing fans believed he should have been stripped long ago for failing to defend his title for three full years.
It's unclear what the record is for a sanctioning body to allow one of its titles to be inactive for that length of time, but it should be close.
Charlo looks at Canelo, Adames needs action
Jermall wants a title shot against undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez and is one of two fighters the Mexican star is believed to be considering for his next title defense in September.
Adames won the interim WBC middleweight title in October 2022 with a third-round knockout of Juan Macias Montiel. Adames most recently defeated former IBF/IBO/WBA junior middleweight champion Julian “J-Rock” Williams by ninth-round knockout last year in June 2023.
It will be nice to see Adames return to action. He hasn't played in 11 months since defeating J-Rock. He needs to take advantage of being the WBC champion by fighting often as there are some good fights for him.
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