Carlos Adames became the full WBC middleweight champion after Jermall Charlo was stripped of the title. This event occurred following Charlo's recent legal issues. The World Boxing Council made the announcement on Tuesday, after Charlo’s arrest the previous Monday.
Carlos Adames had previously held the interim WBC middleweight title since October 2022. He won this title by defeating Juan Macias Montiel with a third-round knockout. Later, in June 2023, he successfully defended his title against Julian Williams with a ninth-round TKO.
Jermall Charlo had been facing several issues that affected his career, including legal challenges and mental health struggles noted since 2021. Just before he was stripped of his title, he faced charges related to DWI and fleeing from police. His last fight was in November 2023 against Jose Benavidez Jr., where he won by decision but came in overweight.
The WBC issued statements supporting Charlo's mental wellness while recognizing Adames as the new full champion. They also mentioned future possibilities of ranking Charlo in the super middleweight division if conditions permit. On his elevation to full champion, Adames described it as "the best present on his birthday," emphasizing how significant this achievement was for him.
Other champions from different boxing organizations recognized Adames' new status; Janibek Alimkhanuly, holding titles from WBO and IBF, congratulated him on his accomplishment. Critics voiced that stripping Charlo due to his prolonged inactivity, which spanned over three years, was overdue.
