Charlo (34-0, 23 KOs) will be fighting for just the fifth time this decade when he travels to face Koen Mazoudier (15-4-1, 6 KOs) in a 10-round super middleweight fight on July 26 in Sydney, Australia (July 25 in the US on DAZN and Prime Video PPV) as the co-main event for Errol Spence versus Tim Tszyu.

Charlo, the former 154- and 160-pound champion, 36, plans on making the most of the last act of his career by becoming a crownholder at 168 pounds.

“I want to go for another world title in a third weight division," Charlo said during a recent media workout in Houston. "I feel a lot more comfortable at 168. It really doesn’t matter who they put in front of me. I feel like I’m gonna have my advantages in this division. I’m planning to make this quarter of my career the best one."

Charlo has some solid wins since turning pro in 2008 against Austin Trout, Julian Williams, Brandon Adams and Sergiy Derevyanchenko, but his dossier lacks a legacy-defining victory.

The unknown Mazoudier certainly won't help matters, but the matchup against the outmatched Australian is supposed to launch Charlo into a deep division.

Charlo's problems outside of the ring cost him a crack at Canelo Alvarez in 2023. Instead, his twin brother, Jermell, who was the undisputed 154-pound champion at the time, moved up two weight classes in a fruitless effort against Alvarez.

If Charlo is serious about his business, a series of big-money bouts may loom, including a matchup against Alvarez, who’s running out of qualified dance partners that can help drive a promotion.

Assuming he mauls Mazoudier, Charlo can move the needle with fights against Caleb Plant, Edgar Berlanga, Armando Resendiz and Diego Pacheco.

A win or two against a strong caliber of contenders could earn Charlo a chance to compete against Alvarez or the titles he’s seeking, which are held by Osleys Iglesias (IBF), Jaime Munguia (WBA), Christian Mbilli (WBC) and Hamzah Sheeraz (WBO).

Charlo last fought in May 2025 following a 19-month layoff to beat Thomas LaManna, another outmatched foe, but he failed to leverage the warm-up bout into anything else. Charlo was supposed to face Resendiz in May, but he passed on the pitting and Munguia seized it instead to score the title he now holds.

Charlo realizes it’s now or never to reap any remaining rewards left from his undefeated career.

“My focus is just different now. I’ve eliminated distractions,” he said. “I feel fresh at this point in my career. I’m doing all of the things that I’m supposed to be doing.

“I’ve been training really hard and staying at peace. I can tell it’s working by the way my body’s flowing. Everything is just really clicking.

“I just want to give everyone some real fights. I want to get in there with warriors and do it for the fans. I pick my shots precisely and I have the power to hurt you at the end of the day. I’m here for the long run.”

Manouk Akopyan is The Ring’s lead writer. Follow him on X and Instagram: @ManoukAkopyan