Headline removed: Houston boxer Jermall Charlo no longer declared WBC champion at 160 pounds after DWI arrest

PEARLAND, Texas– Jermall Charlo was arrested Monday evening in Texas and charged with three misdemeanor counts related to driving while intoxicated, leaving the scene of an accident and eluding police, Chad Rogers told ESPN on Tuesday. public information officer for the Pearland Police Department.

Charlo, 33, was released on $9,500 bond, according to court records, and his blood alcohol level was above 0.15. The legal limit is 0.08.

Later on Tuesday, Charlo was stripped of his WBC middleweight title, a belt he has not defended since June 2021.

“The WBC has and will continue to do as much as possible to support Jermall Charlo during his difficult times regarding mental well-being,” WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman said in a statement posted on social media Tuesday.

Sulaiman had faced growing outcry to strip Charlo of his title before his arrest on Tuesday, but he had resisted public demand and repeatedly voiced his support for the boxer.

With the decision to strip Charlo, interim titleholder Carlos Adames (23-1, 18 KOs), ESPN’s No. 2 boxer at 160 pounds, was elevated to champion.

“The WBC will work closely with the PBC to find the best course of action to meet Jermall’s needs at this time,” Sulaiman said in his statement on Tuesday. “After a thorough assessment of the situation and an understanding of the facts and times, the WBC may classify Jermall as a super middleweight.”

Charlo was driving his red Lamborghini around 6:41 p.m. Monday when he was involved in a collision with another vehicle, according to police.

A verbal argument ensued after the accident and Charlo left the scene rather than wait for police to arrive. The officer eventually identified where he was and pulled up behind Charlo in a marked car with its headlights on.

Charlo, the sole occupant of the vehicle, drove about a mile while an officer followed him. Eventually, another officer pulled in front of Charlo as he attempted to go through a red light, forcing him to stop.

He was arrested and taken to the Pearland City Jail, where standard field sobriety tests were administered. Police determined Charlo had lost “normal use of his mental and physical faculties.” He was then transported to the Brazoria County Jail.

Charlo has not defended his title at 160 pounds since June 2021, but still remains the WBC champion. WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman did not respond to a message seeking comment.

Charlo, ESPN’s No. 3 middleweight, weighed in at 166.5 pounds for a decision win over Jose Benavidez Jr. in November, Charlo’s first fight in 29 months.

Charlo’s twin brother Jermell suffered a lopsided decision loss to Canelo Alvarez in September. Jermall Charlo was the originally scheduled opponent for Alvarez, boxing’s top star, last Saturday in Las Vegas.