From rock bottom to comeback: Jermall Charlo talks openly about his dark days – and his big mission in the super middleweight division.
After a year and a half without a fight and a personal crisis, Jermall Charlo is back. On May 31, the unbeaten former champion (33-0, 22 knockouts) wants to get back on track against Thomas LaManna in Las Vegas. The aim is to then fight Caleb Plant and finally challenge Canelo Alvarez.
Charlo openly admits that he went through a difficult phase with depression: “I locked myself in my house, hardly ate, didn’t speak. It was like being in a dark hole.” But the turning point came: “I looked in the mirror and just thought: That’s not me. I got down on my knees and started praying.” Charlo is now focused again and claims to be physically stronger than ever: “I’m back and more explosive than ever. I love boxing – and I want to beat Canelo. This is the fight I want to end my career with.” But before that can happen, LaManna – and possibly Plant – must be defeated. But Charlo says: “I’m coming to win. I’m me again.”
Text by Robin Josten