Jermall and Jermell Charlo are identical twins with identical boxing dreams

The Charlo twins are world champions and are co-headlining main events for PBC on Fox.

Jermall Charlo and Jermell Charlo are ironically unique because they are identical twin boxing champions. There have been brothers that have reigned simultaneously as champions, but none that were identical or as dynamic as the Charlos. They share headlining rights on Saturday, Dec. 22 on Premier Boxing Champions fight card on Fox. They’re hoping their performances will solidify them as household names.

Jermall (27-0, 21 KOs) defends his WBC middleweight title against Matt Korobov (28-1, 14 KOs) and Jermell (31-0, 15 KOs) makes a defense of his WBC super welterweight title against Tony Harrison (27-2, 21 KOs). As identical twins, the Charlos are used to doing most things together. Their stories since birth have been shared, so it’s no surprise that their careers are following suit. They’ve always had a warrior spirit.

“We love fighting,” said Jermall to FanSided. “It’s the hardest sport in the world. We love to compete and challenge ourselves. Boxing is just one of the arts we picked up, and we stuck with.”

In a way, Jermall and Jermell’s competitive drive helped propel them to where they are today. As twins, they’re built in companions and competitors. They often came to blows when they were younger.

“We sparred each other,” said Jermall. “That was my sparring partner.

“We’ve always been in competition with each other. We had to grow out of it, but we were always in competition with each other. He couldn’t have a bigger slice of the sandwich than me. We both had to share equally. It was always like that all our lives.”

Their Dec. 22 co-main event is no different. The Charlos are also hoping that impressive victories will boost their stock in their respective divisions.

According to Boxrec.com, Jermall is the fourth best middleweight in the world, and Jermell is the fourth-rated super welterweight. Jermell doesn’t agree with Boxrec.com’s assessment.

“I don’t even know who made that ranking, and I don’t really care,” Jermell told FanSided. “I’m the WBC champ defending for the fourth time. To me, I’m ranked number one in the world, and they’ll see why.”

The opponents lined up for the Charlos’ next fight are respectable but aren’t top draws. Jermall has his eye on Gennady Golovkin and Canelo Alvarez, and Jarrett Hurd is Jermell’s top target.

“Of course, Golovkin is one of the fights that has been a mandatory set up for me to fight and Canelo,” said Jermall. “They’re the kings at 160 pounds. I wish they would’ve got their little fight out of the way so we could just move past it.”

Originally, Jermall was supposed to fight Willie Monroe Jr., but he tested positive with an “adverse finding.” Matt Korobov who was already on the card was promoted to Jermall’s challenger. This was quite a surprise for Jermall.

“I was pretty shocked,” said Jermall. “At this level, I’m giving another fighter an opportunity to showcase his talent against me, and I feel like I’m one of the best fighters in the world right now. He had to cheat to do it. It’s a big let down for him and his camp.”

Jermall explained how he’s used to the unexpected during the week before a fight.

"If you look back on my career, back in 2014 I was supposed to fight Carlos Molina. He goes to jail a week before the fight. Then he end [sic] up losing the title to Cornelius Bundrage “K9.” At the time I become ranked number one mandatory for the IBF at junior middleweight. Right before I can fight “K9” for the title he took from Carlos Molina, he gets cut a week before the fight, so that pushed the fight back. If you go on down the line, every opponent that I’ve had, it’s been right before the fight, even all the way up till my last fight, Hugo Centeno, we were gonna fight and a rib injury the week before the fight. It’s definitely something I’ve been through and I was able to handle it a lot better this time."

Korobov was highly touted until 2014 when Andy Lee stopped him in six rounds. His reputation hasn’t healed since, but this might be his last title shot. Korobov is a former two-time amateur world champion, but at 35 years old, his best years are behind him. Jermall should knock him out around midway through the fight.

Jermell’s challenger Tony Harrison has lost twice all via knockout. His chin is questionable, and Jermell wants to take advantage of it. His arch-enemy Jarrett Hurd stopped Harrison in 2017 via TKO in round nine. Jermell would like to outperform him but knows that styles make fights.

“I mean, if Jarrett Hurd stops him and I’m better than him, and I’m better than him, then what you get?” asked Jermell rhetorically. “You get a massive a** fighter. I don’t care what Jarret Hurd did to him. Styles make fights, and I’ve got to be the one that goes in and do what I got to do.”

Between the two brothers, Jermell is more of the boxer and Jermall is the knockout artist. Outside of the ring, both brothers admit that they’re very different people.

“Sometimes we don’t agree on everything, said Jermell. “We have different genres of music we listen to different genres of everything. We’re not the same.”

Jermall’s response was more intimate.

“We’re opposites, but that’s what attracts us more,” responded Jermall. “We’re two different people, but we’re definitely close.

“I like trucks, he likes fast cars. My brother’s a lot more careless. I have a family. I want to be a better role model. I want to show that I have more than just boxing. My brother don’t care about that. He don’t care what you think about him.”

When asked about how he handles public criticism, Jermell displayed his characteristic independence so well identified by his brother with an offbeat simile.

“I just tune it out,” said Jermell. “It’s just as easy as ignoring a girl. When they all coming at you, what you gonna do? You don’t talk to them all. They’re gonna be some ugly ones that come, do you respond to the ugly ones? No. Just some nasty commentators coming at you, you don’t respond to them.”

Jermall and Jermell should make easy work of their outmatched opponents on Saturday, Dec. 22 on Fox. The telecast begins at 8 p.m. EST, and the Charlos will be on display for the world to see. The size of their impact is on them, but don’t be surprised if Jermall and Jermell punctuate the night with a pair of knockout victories.