If you’ve spent any time at all scrolling through boxing forums or checking your social feeds for fight news, you've likely seen the confusion. People keep asking about the next big one, but the reality of the Canelo Alvarez vs. Jermell Charlo start date is that it’s a moment already etched into the history books.
It happened on September 30, 2023.
Honestly, I get why there's still a ton of noise about it. We’re living in an era where "undisputed" gets thrown around like cheap confetti. But this specific fight was different. It wasn’t just another title defense; it was the first time in the four-belt era that two reigning undisputed male champions stepped into the ring to settle who was actually the king of the mountain.
Why the September 30 Date Was a Massive Gamble
When the news first broke that Canelo was fighting a Charlo, everyone naturally assumed it would be Jermall—the bigger twin at 160 pounds. But boxing is weird, and life is weirder. Jermall wasn't ready, so Jermell, the undisputed king at 154 pounds, decided to "dare to be great."
He skipped a whole weight class. Not one, but two.
Most fans forget how much drama led up to that Saturday night at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Charlo was basically stripped of his WBO junior middleweight title the second he stepped into the ring with Canelo because he bypassed his mandatory challenger, Tim Tszyu. He traded a belt for a legacy-defining payday and a shot at the Mexican icon.
The Atmosphere in Vegas that Night
If you weren't in Nevada or tuned into the Showtime PPV (rest in peace, Showtime Boxing), you missed a specific kind of tension. Las Vegas on a Canelo fight weekend is basically a national holiday for boxing fans.
The "Canelo Alvarez vs. Jermell Charlo start date" wasn't just a calendar entry. It was a 9:00 PM ET kickoff for the main card, though the ring walks for the big show didn't actually happen until closer to 11:15 PM ET.
I remember the betting lines shifting late. People started thinking maybe Charlo’s speed would be the equalizer. He’s taller, he’s got a longer reach, and he’s incredibly athletic. But 14 pounds is a lot of weight to carry against a guy who punches like he’s trying to put a hole through a brick wall.
What Actually Happened in the Ring
Canelo looked... well, like Canelo. He spent three months training in the high altitudes of Lake Tahoe, away from his family, and it showed. He didn't look like the "tired" version of himself we saw against John Ryder.
- The Pressure: From the opening bell, Canelo took the center of the ring.
- The Body Work: He stayed true to his plan, digging hooks into Charlo's ribs.
- The Breakthrough: In the 7th round, a massive overhand right followed by an uppercut forced Charlo to take a knee.
It was only the second time Charlo had ever been dropped in his professional career.
The judges weren’t even close to being split on this one. Max De Luca and David Sutherland both had it 118-109, while Steve Weisfeld turned in a 119-108 scorecard. It was a masterclass in ring generalship. Charlo later admitted he "could feel the difference in the weight," noting he had rehydrated to about 172 pounds but still felt the natural strength of the 168-pound king.
The Lingering Impact on the Super Middleweight Division
A lot of people are still searching for the "Canelo Alvarez vs. Jermell Charlo start date" because they’re looking for a rematch or wondering where the momentum went. Since that night, the landscape has shifted. Canelo proved he still owns the super middleweight division, even as younger lions like David Benavidez keep screaming for their shot.
Charlo, on the other hand, went back to the drawing board. He took his $10 million+ payday and the experience of facing an all-time great, but the loss definitely cooled some of the "Iron Man" hype.
If you’re trying to keep track of the stats from that night, here's the quick reality check:
- Total Punches Landed: Canelo 134, Charlo 71.
- Power Punches: Canelo landed 42 body shots alone.
- The Result: A dominant Unanimous Decision for Saul "Canelo" Alvarez.
Moving Forward in 2026
Since we are now looking at the boxing calendar for 2026, the obsession with this fight serves as a reminder of how quickly the sport moves. We’re no longer talking about Charlo moving up; we’re talking about who is left for Canelo to conquer before he finally hangs up the gloves.
If you're following the current scene, your next move should be watching the re-runs of the 7th round of this bout. It’s a textbook example of how a smaller fighter—even a great one—struggles when they jump two weight classes against a power puncher.
Keep an eye on the official PBC and DAZN schedules for upcoming 2026 dates, as the "undisputed vs. undisputed" trend that this fight started is likely to be the blueprint for the mega-fights of the next twelve months.