On September 26th, WBA/IBF champion Jeison “Banana” Rosario will unify his two junior middleweight titles with Jermell Charlo's WBC version. Back in April, as the reality of the coronavirus was setting in, Rosario spoke with Boxingtalk's Ivan Montiel about what was then just a possibility, but is now a reality. Here are Rosario's previously unpublished thoughts:

 

Ivan Montiel: You have the WBA and IBF 154-pound titles you won against Julian Williams. Prior to everything shutting down for the coronavirus, many spoke about a unification fight between you and the WBC champion, Jermell Charlo.

 

Jeison Rosario: That’s right but as of now, those are just rumors and nothing has been signed. “Team Banana” is ready for Charlo... but we are also ready for whomever.  

 

IM: Now I know that you will fight “whomever” but I just know that you want Charlo more than anyone else, right?

 

JR: Yes of course. I am willing to fight anyone; the 154 division is on fire. My objective is to collect all the titles, but my first objective is to get a fight versus Charlo.

 

IM: What about moving up to middleweight?

 

JR: No Ivan. Like I just said, first I must capture all the titles at 154. Once I accomplish that, then I will like to move up to 160… My hunger has not left. It’s still in me and it keeps growing as time passes by.  I’ve seen Charlo’s comments towards me saying that he’s the hunter and that I am a piece of meat.  That all of the guys at 154 are to him, pieces of meat. Those types of comments make me work hard, so I give thanks to him for motivating me.  He’s simply provoking me and the day he fights me, he will be frustrated and realize that he is the piece of meat.  Every fighter deserves respect, and I will teach Charlo how to respect.  It has nothing to do with his titles, this guy has no respect for human beings.  Charlo talks like he’s the only one living on this planet, like others are animals. All that trash talk makes me work harder, it gives me strength.

 

IM: This reminds me of fights like Oscar De La Hoya versus Ricardo Mayorga and we saw what happened in the end to Mayorga the trash talker.

 

JR: Exactly. In order to sell a fight, one does not have to offend. Charlo always talks nonsense. This guy is too negative. Charlo doesn’t realize the problem that he’s causing. He doesn’t imagine what he’s creating. 

 

IM: But going negative does sell. We are seeing more and more boxing fans who support this type of bad attitude.  99% of the fighters I have come across are positive but of course there are a few negative guys out there. That’s boxing I guess.

 

JR: Well I don’t care for that type of nonsense. I am here to fight, my show is inside that ring. I don’t want to be the one who talks and ends up not doing what I said I was going to do. I want to please the crowd. I want the public to get the type of fight that they pay for. I don’t have to insult Charlo. All I know is the day I fight him, I will run right over him. I don’t have to offend Charlo... the day we fight it’ll be just Charlo and me. In the end God punishes those types of people, he puts them to shame.  No fans will save you inside that ring.

 

IM: There’s a saying, be careful with the quiet ones.

 

JR: Yes I believe so. Those who talk too much have little time to think. Those who talk way too much talk trash. Then there are the quiet ones like you said which we have to look out for.  The quiet ones analyze and calculate what they are going to do. That saying is so true. A lot of times, I laugh at these types of fighters, they forget that boxing is a sport.  Yes it’s a combat sport, we have the desire to win, no doubt ,but that’s where it ends.  Don’t cross that line.  

 

IM: Hopefully this fight between yourself and Charlo does in fact happen

 

JR: I believe it will happen. Charlo will come to try to get his piece of meat. But his confidence is way too high. I don’t want to insult him, but man, every day he’s motivating me to get stronger.  I work very hard.  Look Ivan there’s lots of top guys at 154 pounds but I keep wanting Charlo due to his trash talk. I want to teach him some respect.  

 

IM: The fact that he motivated you so much could be a bad thing for him.

 

JR: Yes of course.  Apart from all the trash talk that he’s done, I also want to face him simply because he’s one of the best 154 pounders.  Charlo's is the #1 guy at 154 right now, and I want that spot.  My objective to become world champion has not ended yet. Having beat Julian Williams is not enough. Once I beat Charlo, there can’t be any excuse like some think about my win over Williams [was a fluke].  That is why I have Charlo on my mind 24/7… 

 

[The following remarks have an added siginficance in light of the fact that Rosario's boxing advisor Sampson Lewkowicz is currently recovering from cancer surgery, something that had not occurred when Rosario sat for this interview in April]

 

JR: I want to thank my entire team for everything including Sampson Lewkowicz whom has done everything for me.  After my single loss, Sampson gave me another opportunity.  Sampson wanted me to take full advantage of it and I did so.  I want to thank God as well for everything.  Also, my trainer who is like a father figure to me. He always keeps me ready physically and mentally. Sampson is an intelligent guy whom has a good eye for good talent, which of course includes not only you, but also Manny Pacquiao and Sergio Martinez.  Sampson knows exactly what he is doing. Sampson is like a father. He gives me good advice.  Whenever I don’t listen, whenever I make mistakes Sampson says don’t do that, I told you so.  Don’t make that mistake again.  I am not perfect that’s why I need guys like Sampson… My kids will one day know what Sampson and my entire team did for me.  My kids will have to understand that their father succeeded due to all of these people including God almighty. 

 

IM: Then there are the guys who have good people on their side but they just don’t listen to the good advice they receive.

 

JR: That’s true and that happens to a lot of boxers unfortunately a lot of us fail.  I always say it’s better to have eight eyes watching me then just my two eyes.  Once you have two eyes watching ahead, two eyes watching behind, two eyes watching your left and two eyes watching your right it’s very hard to fail.  In boxing nobody can succeed without a good team.  Once again those who do bad things God will not help.  God sees if a fighter turns his or her back on his or her team once he or she has succeeded.  How does it make any sense to change your promoter, manager and trainer once you’ve won a world title that right there is not correct.  There’s a process to becoming a champion yet once a fighter becomes world champion he or she thinks that he’s or she’s invincible.  That right there is when fighters fail.  I am loyal to my entire team no matter what.  The sacrifice, the pain, the bad blood, which sometimes happens no matter what, I will continue to stick with my people.