Jermell Carlo has a legacy in his head, not money, in the fight for an indisputable situation with Brian Castano

After flirting with the periphery of the sport’s 10-pound roster as a 154-pound title in two reigns, the only thing missing until the seemingly missing super welterweight champion Jermell Charlo is a definite victory.

At 31, it would have been hard to find anyone who debates whether Charlo (34-1, 18 KOs) and his excellent combination of power and speed are world-class. Charlo made a strong case for being the best 154-pound in the sport last fall when he directed his first payment card (along with his twin brother Jermall) and knocked out Jeison Rosario to reunite for the world title trio. His only defeat – a controversial decision against Tony Harrison in 2018 – was to avenge the playoffs the following year.

So what does this defining struggle to consolidate as one of the best middleweight super champions of the modern era mean? Charlero got his shot on Saturday as he defended his WBC, WBA and IBF titles at the AT&T Center in San Antonio against undefeated WBO holder Brian Castaño (Show time, 9 p.m. ET) to declare himself the undisputed first champion of 15,000 pounds in 154-pound four-stroke season.

“I consider myself one of the best fighters on the planet. I’m pushing myself every day,” Carlo said. “My intention is different and my decision is there. In the time of the quad belt and to fight for the undisputed championship, now it’s my turn. Brian Castaño is on his way and I haven’t underestimated anyone. I really know what I have to deal with.

“I want to bite and kill everything I put in the ring. I’m sorry, that’s the way it is.”

Listen to any interview with Charles and it’s easy to hear that Houston’s origins set him apart from everyone else in the sport, including the shadow of his brother Jermall, the undisputed WBC middleweight champion who had the same title in the first 154 pounds. .

Since Showtime’s “All Access” pre-fight documentary series did a great job of capturing this fight, the Charlo twins often wear it publicly because they have such a big chip on their shoulders that their flesh and blood aren’t even out of each other’s anger. Although Jermell’s clear love for his brother is clearly cold and cold, there is certainly a level of competition between them.

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On the one hand, being the undisputed four-belt champion at 154 pounds allows Charlo to stand out. It’s an achievement that Charles quickly said “even the great Floyd Mayweather” never achieved.

While continuing to record his name in history is a big part of his motivation to get into this fight for Charles, he is asking for a back seat to Charles, a favorite of the William Hill Sportsbook –240 bets, to win and win hands. A rugged and dominating champion like Castaño.

“Belts don’t make me, I want to fight. That’s what I’ve been doing since I was 8,” Carlo said. “I’m a warrior. I’m here to fight and to be very evil. The best man will win, that’s what matters to me. I’ll push myself all the way.

“I consider myself very dangerous. I’m a fighter who doesn’t give a f. I’m a fighter who wants anything. Are you going to hurt me? I’m going to die too. I want them all. I don’t care about this or that, [or what] they’re all thinking. ”

One thing Carlos knows about Saturday is that the toughest challenge of his career is to be expected from all of Castaño’s action. He is a native of Argentina. The 31-year-old has continued to improve every time he has risen in class and has gained a reputation for his style of not stepping back inside the ring.

“I’ve never lost a fight. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I won’t let it pass me by,” Castaño said. “This is one of the most important fights in Argentine history. It’s for four belts, indisputable at 154 kilos. Charlo is a great fighter, no doubt. But I came to do my job and I will come forward. I’m always the kind of fighter who goes after you. “Even though I didn’t say anything that Charles had never seen before, no one had ever seen my fighting style.”

The only flaw in Castaño’s professional career – Erislandy Lara’s now-unbeaten 2019 WBA title draw – is twice as good as the best performance she has faced against the toughest challenge of her career. Castaño repeatedly penetrated Lara’s skin and hit her body with a two-stroke attack.

Castaño followed up with two more important victories in the tie, as veteran Wale Omotoso stopped to close 2019 before making a wide-ranging decision by Brazilian Patrick Teixeira in February after a lengthy WBO title release.

No doubt Castaño will have to use as strong a chin as he has shown so far to withstand Charlo’s powerful blow, an effective progressive counterattack that has resulted in a triple knockout since 2019 for Jorge Cota, Harrison and Rosario.

The contrasting styles at the end of the day are what make this match as good as possible, against a grinder like Castaño who seems to be going out from outside, with a desire to get in close to the opponent’s blow.

“I haven’t given Castaño a fist yet, so I don’t know what he’s going to do when I hit his chin,” Carlo said. “Castaño leaves everything in the ring so we don’t play any games. I know he has a big heart. I’ll do what I do. You’ll see a more developed Jermell Charlo. I guarantee you’ll see the main pound fighter. At any moment, this fight can end.”

Even as the fight progresses, Charlo is happy with a hungry champion who is ready to face this stage of his career. Although this fight will compete for four world titles, Charlo’s focus is on maximizing what’s left of his first physique by tackling the toughest opponents available to him.

“It was time to get into that fight. I don’t have belts and money in my head. What I have in my head is heritage,” Charlo said. “A lot of people don’t get those opportunities. This fight will strengthen a lot of things in people’s minds around Charlos.

“I know what I have in the ring. When it comes time to fight, I immediately become the best warrior out there.”