Jermall Charlo plans to fight again before the end of 2026, provided he defeats Koen Mazoudier on July 25. The former world champion is signaling a renewed focus on activity after fighting just five times since the start of 2020.
Charlo, 36, is scheduled to face Mazoudier in a 10-round super middleweight contest in Sydney, Australia. Speaking from his Houston training camp, he made his intentions clear for the remainder of the year. “Let’s get done with this fight in July. Then I’ll try to fight before the end of the year is over with. Give you another fight,” Charlo stated. His recent return from a long layoff was a fifth-round stoppage of Thomas LaManna in May 2025, but he has been out of the ring for the 13 months since.
Now campaigning at 168 pounds, Charlo claims the move up in weight has revitalized him. He believes he is still a championship-caliber fighter and feels physically renewed despite his age. He said: “I feel fresh. At 36, I feel like I’m 32 maybe or 30 or something.” This physical comfort is central to his plan to pursue a third world title in a new division.
The plan extends beyond just staying busy. Charlo has specific opponents in mind as he looks to climb the super middleweight ranks. “Then I want to go and fight McGee. Caleb Plant don’t want to fight. He’s been running for years now,” Charlo said, calling out a former champion. He also revealed that his team had other plans that fell through due to an upset loss. “It’s unfortunate that Resendiz lost to Miguel because we was going to take him,” he added.
For Charlo, the stakes are straightforward. A victory over Mazoudier on the Errol Spence Jr. vs. Tim Tszyu undercard keeps his title aspirations alive and validates his commitment to remaining active. Another win before year’s end would build needed momentum for a significant fight in 2027. But a loss would be a serious setback for a fighter looking to make a final run at championship contention.
