BROTHERLY GLOVE
How identical twins and boxing champions became estranged in ugly rift during year of ‘havoc’ before rekindling
THE Charlo twins have risen to the top of the boxing world together - but their relationship has taken some blows along the way.
The pair were born on May 19, 1990, in Lafayette, Louisiana, but they were schooled and raised in Houston, Texas.
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Jermell, the younger of the two, was born one minute after his older brother Jermall.
Both were introduced to boxing at a young age to follow in the footsteps of their dad Kevin, an ex-amateur.
Jermall was the slightly more experienced in the unpaid ranks, with a record of 65-6 before making his professional debut in 2008.
But Jermell - who went 56-8 in the amateurs - turned pro a year prior at just 17.
Both raced to unbeaten records but it was Jermall who touched gold first as he won the IBF light-middleweight title in September 2015.
He made one defense of the belt before a history-defining night presented itself in May 2016.
As Jermell also fought for 154-pound honors, beating John Jackson the same night Jermall defeated Austin Trout.
It meant the two reigned over the light-middleweight division at the very same time.
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Jermell said on the night: “We did it. We made history. We’ve been boxing for all these years, and it had to happen.”
Jermall added: “It was great being the first twins to win titles in the same division, and I’m so proud of my brother.
"I knew he could get the job done.”
Jermell stayed at light-middleweight and became undisputed champion last year when he beat Brian Castano in their rematch.
Meanwhile, Jermall later moved up to the 160-pound middleweight division and became WBC champion there.
The pair have fought on the same card eight times and in 2018, Jermell suffered his first loss, losing to Tony Harrison.
Jermall had beaten Matt Korobov but admitted watching his sibling lose dampened his celebrations.
He said: "It definitely was [hard to celebrate], but we got home and we got over it.
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"It's just part of the game that we just have to get used to. Sometimes it goes our way, sometimes it don't.
"But it's still a sport, and you want to be undefeated. You don't know how to take losses. It's tough.
"But it's just boxing at the end of the day, it's just a segment of our life that my brother overcame."
Jermell later beat Harrison in their 2019 rematch but cracks started to appear in his relationship with Jermall.
The two have always had a turbulent relationship at times but it reached boiling point as Jermall suffered with his mental health.
He has not boxed since June 2021 - beating Juan Macias Montiel - due to his problems outside the ring.
It even cost him his dream bout with Canelo Alvarez as the American was deemed unable to accept the bout.
Instead, Jermell accepted an offer to jump two divisions to take on the Mexican superstar.
'We don’t see eye-to-eye'
But he did so having spent months without speaking to Jermall and their falling out came under question on fight week.
Jermell revealed: “This family affair thing has been really crazy.
“I try not to touch on that topic too much because at the end of the day I love my brother.
“But I think it’s just that at this current moment we don’t see eye-to-eye.
"It has a lot to do with what he wants in his life and what I want in mine. They are two completely different things.
“Growing up and growing apart from each other is just the nature of life but I just have to accept this just like I accept certain people and the good that comes with the bad.
"One day, hopefully we speak again but right now I’m not in the mood to deal with the havoc that he brings and all the other stuff."
Jermall raised eyebrows when he showed up in Las Vegas to support his brother Jermell.
I'm feeling better, I'm in a better space, I've got better people around me.
Jermall Charlo
But he said: "I'mma always be there for my brother man, no matter what the internet or social media is trying to make things out to be.
"I'm feeling better, I'm in a better space, I've got better people around me."
Jermall also confirmed that he is set to return on November 25 against Jose Benavidez Jr.
The world champion looked to come full circle in his recovery as he was filmed coming into Jermell's dressing room before the Canelo fight.
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The two embraced with a hug which was met with loud claps in the room and a heartwarming reaction on social media.
Jermell was later beaten over 12 rounds by Canelo but he did so with his brother back in his corner.
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