by Oscar Cabrero/ Boxing Contributor
Unified junior middleweight champion Jermell Charlo is facing significant personal and legal challenges following his arrest over the weekend. Michael Coppinger of ESPN reports that Charlo’s wife, Chyane Westbrook, has taken substantial legal actions in response to the incident. She has filed for a temporary restraining order and is seeking a divorce.
Charlo was arrested on Saturday on charges of ‘misdemeanor assault causing bodily injury to a family member,’ though the victim was not named in the court records. This development came to light after court documents revealed on Tuesday that Westbrook had filed for both the restraining order and divorce, marking a turbulent phase in Charlo’s personal life.
Professionally, Jermell Charlo is a prominent figure in the boxing world, fighting under the Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) banner. However, a PBC representative did not comment on the recent developments. This is not Charlo’s first encounter with legal trouble; in May 2018, he faced felony domestic violence charges for allegedly choking his then-girlfriend, although he was acquitted the following year by a jury.
Charlo (35-2-1, 19 KOs) holds the title of unified junior middleweight champion and is ranked as ESPN’s top boxer at 154 pounds. His career reached a peak in September when he moved up to 168 pounds to fight Canelo Alvarez for the undisputed super middleweight championship, a match in which he suffered a unanimous decision defeat. These personal issues come at a critical time in Charlo’s career, casting a shadow over his professional achievements and future in the sport.