Jermall Charlo Accuses Canelo of Still Using PEDs — Trash Talk or Tactical Play?
- Austin Jones
- May 29
- 2 min read
A Bold Accusation From a Rejuvenated Jermall Charlo
In a sport where psychological warfare often begins long before the first bell rings, Jermall Charlo has reignited controversy with a sharp verbal jab at boxing superstar Canelo Álvarez. Charlo, who is preparing for his own comeback fight against Thomas LaManna, made headlines by questioning whether Canelo is still using performance-enhancing drugs—specifically clenbuterol.
While most pre-fight banter is written off as hype, this shot wasn’t vague or abstract. It was pointed and direct:
“Y’all think Canelo hasn’t been taking clenbuterol for a long time? Y’all think he ain’t back on that sht?! Or y’all think it was in the steaks because I go to Mexico all the time eating steak. I ain’t never got popped for no sht like that.”
It was a calculated statement—one that adds heat to a rivalry that doesn’t even officially exist… yet.
PED Scandals Still Haunt Boxing
Canelo's history with PED allegations dates back to 2018, when he tested positive for clenbuterol and attributed the result to contaminated meat in Mexico. Though he served a brief suspension and returned to dominate the super middleweight and light heavyweight divisions, that stain on his legacy never fully washed away in the minds of critics and now, evidently, his peers.
Charlo’s jab reopens that wound—and not by coincidence. The timing aligns with his own push back into the spotlight. If he can make headlines off Canelo's name, he might also make a case for landing the massive payday that comes with being Canelo’s next opponent.
The Strategy Behind the Shade
Jermall Charlo's accusations serve multiple purposes. First, they generate publicity. Second, they rattle the cage—potentially getting under Canelo’s skin. And third, they position Charlo as a bold, unfiltered alternative in a division where many others toe the line.
Whether or not Charlo actually believes Canelo is still using PEDs, his statement throws gasoline on a long-simmering fire. Boxing fans are now watching closely—not just for Charlo’s return to the ring, but for any response from Team Canelo. Silence might be seen as dignity… or as deflection.
Will This Lead to a Fight?
In boxing, trash talk is currency. It earns attention, headlines, and often contracts. Charlo’s comments might not earn him a title shot outright, but they do position him as a marketable villain—or hero, depending on your viewpoint.
Canelo hasn’t responded publicly, and perhaps he won’t. But if Charlo’s goal was to stir the pot and get his name trending again, mission accomplished.
Now we wait to see if this war of words leads to war in the ring.
FIGHT.TV will be watching. Will this be the spark that finally brings Canelo vs. Charlo to life? Or just another uncashed check in boxing’s long history of call-outs and controversies? Stay tuned.
