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Charlo twins seek concurrent titles in same weight class

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Charlo twins seek concurrent titles in same weight class

Since the infancy of their boxing careers, identical twins Jermall and Jermell Charlo envisioned becoming co-world titleholders.

"We're going to rule the division together," Jermell said in 2009. "We're going to take on the division from two different sides and make it to the top."

Except for a few speed bumps along the way, their vision has unfurled pretty much on cue. On Saturday, two days after their 26th birthday, the Hastings High graduates will attempt to make history by becoming the first twins to hold world titles concurrently in the same weight class.

Older by a minute, Jermall (23-0, 18 KOs) defends his International Boxing Federation 154-pound belt against Austin Trout at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas. On the same card, Jermell (27-0, 12 KOs) fights for the vacant World Boxing Council title against John Jackson. Showtime will air the card.

"We're both going to come out victorious and make history," Jermall said.

Double takes

Twins have held world titles concurrently, although not in the same division. International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee Khaosai Galaxy (47-1, 41 KOs) of Thailand made 19 defenses of his 115-pound title from 1984-1991. His twin Khaokor (24-2, 18 KOs) won the 118-pound belt twice during Khaosai's reign.

The Charlos' opponents are as diametrically polar as the twins are identical. In Jackson (20-2, 15 KOs), Jermell faces a hard-charging power puncher who hails from a long boxing bloodline. Jackson's father Julian (55-6, 49 KOs) is a former two-division world titleholder. His brother Julius (19-1, 15 KOs) is a contender in the super middleweight division.

"I'm fighting John Jackson, the son of a legend," Jermell said. "I don't believe John Jackson will be able to live up to his dad, and if his dad ever had to face me, I would have beat him, too."

Trout (30-2, 17 KOs) is a slick, counterpunching stylist who briefly held the World Boxing Association title in 2012. He will be the most accomplished foe and the first lefthander Jermall has encountered as a pro.

"This is a huge fight for me," Jermall said. "This is more to me than winning a world title. I've put my all into this. None of Trout's experience matters. I'm a real lion and I'm going to show it."

The twins have always been cognizant that their identical DNA makes them more marketable as a single entity than the sum of their individual exploits. Yet they have also been autonomous in and out of the ring.

As teenagers, they got different tattoos to distinguish themselves. Jermell inked "One of a Kind" on his forearm to amplify that distinction, and over the years, their career paths have diverged.

Go their own ways

Last year, Jermell replaced longtime trainer Ronnie Shields with Dallas-based Derrick James; Jermall remained in Shields' stable. Jermell also founded a boxing gym independent of Jermall to give himself the option of becoming a manager and promoter after his fighting days are over.

Should the twins emerge victorious Saturday, their reign as 154-pound titleholders will likely be short-lived. Jermall has declared his intention to move up to the 160-pound middleweight division; Jermell intends to continue boxing as a junior middleweight.

"We're building our legacy; I'm building mine and he's building his but we're still in this together," Jermall said. "I'm inspired by my twin brother. We compete and I guess that's what's pushing us above and beyond. I love what my brother does and I'm pretty sure he loves what I do."

Peter Lim is a freelance writer