Newly-crowned champion to choose from a list of potential challengers for first defence.
When José Armando Resendiz was revealed as the opponent for Caleb Plant in May of 2025, few thought ‘Sweet Hands’ had much to worry about. Resendiz possessed a decent 15-2 (11 KOs) record, but he had lost to the 14-4-2 Marcos Hernandez and been stopped by Elijah García, who were inferior to former world champion Plant.
Simply put, there wasn’t much suggesting he posed anything worth worrying about.
Little did we know….
Resendiz would go on to beat Plant convincingly, a performance that won The Ring‘s “Upset of the Year” award. With the win, Resendiz claimed the WBA interim super-middleweight title. This was upgraded to full WBA hardware after Terence Crawford’s retirement scattered the undisputed crown.
It appeared an all-Mexican showdown would be taking place for Resendiz’s first title defence against former super-welterweight champion Jaime Munguía. However, those talks have now ceased, with Munguía having reportedly turned the fight down.
As a result, there are a few potential options to choose from when it comes to Resendiz’s alternate opponent for his maiden title defence, and four in particular are the most likely.
The first is a rematch with Caleb Plant (23-3, 14 KOs). This will give Plant a chance to avenge his most recent defeat and become a two-time world champion while doing so.
The second option is Carlos Adames (24-1-1, 18 KOs), the current reigning WBC middleweight champion.
This would be an intriguing matchup that would give Adames the chance to become a two-weight champion. Given that Adames was recently hospitalised for dehydration after trying to make weight for a fight with Austin Williams, 168 pounds might be a weight he can make more comfortably. Whether he will be fully recovered by now is another matter.
Option three is Erislandy Lara (32-3-3, 19 KOs), the current WBA middleweight champion.
Turning 43 in April, Lara is the oldest reigning champion in the sport, and he has already been a champion at super-welterweight. If he were to find a way to outmanoeuvre Resendiz and become a three-weight champion at his advanced age, he would add to the legend of what is already a Hall-of-Fame career. With a unification fight against Janibek Alimkhanuly falling through recently, Lara may just fancy this test instead.
Finally, there is what rumours are stating is the most likely option: Jermall Charlo (34-0, 23 KOs).
The undefeated American was once regarded as one of the best fighters in the sport, but his career has been plagued with inactivity. A former champion at both super-welterweight and middleweight, Charlo has only fought four times since 2019.
The Louisiana man last fought on the same card as Resendiz’s win over Caleb Plant, as a Plant victory was meant to set up a fight with Charlo. Of course, though, Resendiz set those plans aflame.
That dynamic makes this fight an interesting one. It also gives Charlo the opportunity to win a title at a third weight, which will allow him to enhance his credentials and remind everyone of what made him so special in the first place.
Jermall’s twin brother Jermell (also a former champion) himself challenged for world honours at super-middleweight, though when he jumped up two divisions to fight Canelo Álvarez for his undisputed championship in 2023, he turned in an extremely tepid display that attracted the criticism of many observers.
Jermall would likely wish to one-up his brother and reestablish himself on the world scene, so he has plenty of incentive to take the fight with Resendiz.
Whether it’s Charlo or one of the three other options, though, it will be intriguing to see what type of champion Resendiz is. Is he a “here today, gone tomorrow” type, or could he become a true force at super-middleweight?
Fight fans should be very excited to find out.
‼️WITH AN ANNOUNCEMENT COMING LATER IN THE WEEK….
THESE ARE THE LIKELY OPTIONS FOR ARMANDO RESENDIZ FOR MAY 2ND‼️#Boxing #BenavidezZurdo
💥💥🥊🥊🥊🥊CREDIT: @FerSabatiniBox pic.twitter.com/I2rPaQaS7U
— Danny (@dantheboxingman) February 17, 2026
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