Boxing champion stripped of title following arrest

Dec 7, 2019; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Jermall Charlo (blue and red trunks) reacts after knocking out Dennis Hogan of Ireland (white trunk) in the seventh round during a middleweight world championship fight at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Sarah Stier-USA TODAY Sports

Jermall Charlo is in trouble with the law again, and the latest incident has cost him his championship belt.

Charlo was arrested on Monday in Texas and charged with three misdemeanors related to driving while intoxicated, fleeing the scene of an accident and eluding police, according to ESPN’s Mike Coppinger.

Police in Pearland, Texas, say Charlo was driving his red Lamborghini at around 6:41 p.m. Monday evening when he was involved in an accident with another vehicle. The two drivers had a verbal argument following the collision, and Charlo left the scene before officers arrived. Police located Charlo and pulled up behind him in a marked car with lights flashing, but he did not pull over.

Officers say Charlo drove for approximately one mile without stopping. The 33-year-old attempted to drive through a red light but an officer parked in front of him, so he stopped. Charlo was then arrested, and it was later determined that his blood alcohol content was 0.15, which is nearly twice the legal limit of 0.08.

The WBC announced on Tuesday that Charlo has been stripped of his WBC middleweight title. He last defended the title in June 2021.

“The WBC has provided and will continue to do as much as possible to support Jermall Charlo during his difficult times with regards to mental wellness,” WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman said in a statement.

Interim middleweight titleholder Carlos Adames has been elevated to champion.

The WBC had faced pressure to strip Charlo of his title prior to Tuesday’s arrest. Charlo, who is 33-0 in his career, has been arrested multiple times in the past few years.