Jermall Charlo: If Centeno can’t take a punch, he goes in first round

Former junior middleweight titleholder and emerging middleweight star Jermall Charlo is set to return to action on March 3, when he faces Hugo Centeno Jr on the Wilder-Ortiz undercard, live o Showtime from Brooklyn’s Barclays Center.

Both Charlo twins spoke recently with Fight Hub TV at the big Showtime schedule presentation, and Jermall was asked about the coming matchup. He made it short and to the point.

“It’s gonna be a tough matchup. If he can take a shot, then we’re gonna fight, it’s gonna be a brutal war. If he can’t, I’m gonna take him out in the first round,” Jermall told Fight Hub TV.

Charlo (26-0, 20 KO) has stopped his last two opponents (Sebastian Heiland and Julian Williams), and four of his last five (including Cornelius Bundrage and Wilky Campfort), and he’s built a reputation as a puncher.

Furthermore, Centeno (26-1, 14 KO) was stopped in his lone loss, back in 2016 against Maciej Sulecki, though it did come in the 10th and final round of that bout. Centeno can bang a little, too, keep in mind — he scored a highlight reel KO of James de la Rosa back in 2014, and another in his last fight, when he knocked out Immanuwel Aleem in August.

Add that all up, and remember that these fighters are 26 and 27 years of age, and you’ve got the ingredients for some fireworks on March 3.