The undefeated Charlo twins punch their way through boxing -- and toward one another

When The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas hosts three boxing matches Saturday night, Terrie Charlo will be a nervous mother in the stands. In fact, she'll be doubly nervous, with both of her twin sons fighting on the Showtime-televised card.  

Terrie's sons -- Jermall Charlo and Jermell Charlo -- are darting and slugging their way through the sport. If both win Saturday night, the two 154-pounders will become the first twins to possess world titles in the same division at the same time. 

Jermall is 23-0 with 18 knockouts in his career. If he beats Austin Trout on Saturday, he'll keep his IBF Super Welterweight World Champion belt. Jermell is 27-0 with 12 knockouts in his career. If he beats John Jackson, he'll seize the WBC Super Welterweight World Championship belt, which was vacated by Floyd Mayweather Jr. when the boxing legend retired last year.

It all begs a question: Would the Charlo twins ever fight each other for undisputed status? 

Two twins, 50 fights, zero losses

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

The Charlo twins turn 26 this Thursday, but Jermall is one minute older. He's also an inch taller and has half an inch in reach on brother Jermell. Jermall's favorite color is black; Jermell's is white. Neither is big on watching on TV. 

"Jermell is more the type of, 'I want to work and let you know I'm getting it done,'" Jermall explained to Mashable this week. "I'm more like, 'Hey, I got it done but I don't necessarily have to show you.'"

In terms of actual boxing, both Charlo twins are known for having consistent jabs that keep opponents on their heels. 

But Jermall is "more of a puncher," says Jermell. "I use a little more movement in the ring."

The twins' dad was a boxer, and first began bringing little Jermall by the gym when the twins were about 9 years old. Jermell noticed grown men rooting his brother on during a punching-bag workout. 

"I was like, 'Man, I want to be a part of this too,'" Jermell told Mashable. 

Football was gone, replaced by boxing forever. 

"No matter what they did as kids, Jermall was always like, 'Well, I'm the oldest' and Jermell was quiet and everyone would pick on him," said Terrie, who works in the Houston area as a special education teacher. 

"So it's funny, because Jermell actually turned pro first," Terrie said. "Jermell was like, 'You're older but I turned pro first!'"

In a combined 50 professional fights since then, neither Charlo twin has lost once. 

'Work it out. You're brothers.'

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

So let's say Jermall beats Trout on Saturday to keep his IBF belt. And let's say Jermell beats Jackson to take the WBC belt Saturday. 

They'd each hold belts. That's interesting -- because to achieve coveted undisputed-champion status in boxing, you've got to beat the other guys who hold belts in your weight division. Even if one of them is your twin brother. 

So, again: Would Jermall and Jermell Charlo ever fight each other?

Both say it's a non-starter.

"I know that doesn't make it fun," Jermall told Mashable. "But it's just not something we care to do. I have nothing to prove to my twin brother." 

Instead, the Charlo twins offer one another support. They spent last Saturday together, talking about keys to success this weekend and doing cardio work to make weight. 

But they still have moments of fraternal animosity, according to Terrie -- even when it comes to boxing. 

"There are times when they get into it because Jermall thinks Jermell should be training the way he's training, and vice versa," Terrie said. 

"They call," she said. "I'm like, 'Work it out. You're brothers.'" 

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