While 2022 might still be on the calendar, 2023 has Jermall Charlo’s full attention.

By and large, due to a nagging back injury and personal issues, Charlo (32-0, 22 KOs) has been forced to sit idly by on the sidelines. His WBC middleweight title, though still firmly in his possession, has collected a considerable amount of dust.

With a return to the ring in his immediate plans, Charlo has a hunch that his run at 160 pounds is coming to an end. As the truculent Houston native surveys the landscape at 168 pounds, an intriguing showdown has landed steadily on his radar.

Although a date and venue have yet to be revealed, both Caleb Plant and David Benavidez have announced that a showdown between them will take place in the first half of the new year.

Admittedly, while he’s yet to dip his toe in the super middleweight division, Charlo indicates that he would love to swap fists with whomever emerges victoriously.

“Hopefully I get the winner,” said Charlo to FightHub TV. “If they wanna see me they gonna see me.”

Plant, a former IBF titleholder, bounced back nicely after suffering the first defeat of his career at the hands of Canelo Alvarez. The newly turned 30-year-old violently placed his rivalry against Anthony Dirrell to rest, stopping the 38-year-old in the ninth round earlier this year.

As for Benavidez, after making quick work of David Lemieux, the former two-time WBC titlist opted against taking on Jose Uzcategui in lieu of a matchup against Plant. In terms of who Charlo believes will come out with their hands raised in triumph, the former two-division champion paused for a moment while playing the countless possibilities of scenarios in his mind. After pondering to himself, Charlo blurted out his official prediction.

“Sh!t, I might go with Plant.”