Showtime announces tripleheader of 154-pound title fights on May 21

Apr

Jermell Charlo (left) has split with trainer Ronnie Shields, who trains his twin Jermall, but the brothers remain close. Photo by Naoki Fukuda

Jermell Charlo (left) and twin Jermall could both hold titles on May 21. Photo: Naoki Fukuda

Apparently one title fight wasn’t good enough for Showtime.

The network formally announced a tripleheader on Wednesday with three title fights in the junior middleweight division scheduled for May 21 at the Cosmopolitan hotel and casino in Las Vegas. The card on Showtime (9 p.m. ET) features five of THE RING’s top seven rated junior middleweights.

Erislandy Lara will defend his WBA junior middleweight title against Vanes Martirosyan in the main event in a rematch of their 2012 fight, which ended in a technical draw.

IBF titleholder Jermall Charlo clashes with former titleholder Austin Trout in the co-main event in the second defense of his title; Meanwhile, Charlo’s twin brother Jermell Charlo faces John Jackson for the vacant WBC junior middleweight title. If both Charlos win, they will become the first set of twins to hold world titles in the same division.

“This will be a history-making, record-breaking night for the Charlo twins,” Jermall Charlo said in a press release. “It means everything to us to be able to fight in two championship fights on the same card. This is everything we’ve ever dreamed of.”

The flurry of activity in the junior middleweight division and the existing political alliances provide hope that a unified junior middleweight champion could soon emerge. Julian Williams is the mandatory for whomever prevails between Trout and Charlo. The winner of Demetrius Andrade and Willie Nelson on June 11 at Turning Stone Casino on Showtime in a WBC eliminator is in line to face the winner of Charlo-Jackson.

With Showtime featuring all of the fighters and advisor Al Haymon controlling all but Nelson, Jackson and Andrade, the titles could one day be consolidated. “I’m looking forward and I’m excited to be making my 2016 debut in the boxing capitol of Las Vegas come May 21,” Lara said in the release. “I can’t wait to get in the ring as I have unfinished business to take care of with Vanes. I’m the champion and will remain the champion.”