Jermell Charlo facing felony domestic violence charge

This past May, just under a month before his decision win over Austin Trout, WBC Super Welterweight Champion Jermell Charlo was arrested for allegedly choking his girlfriend. His first hearing for the felony charge takes place on August 1st.

ESPN has the details:

On May 18, Charlo was booked into Dallas County Jail at 1:43 p.m. CT for allegedly trying to choke his girlfriend, Jazmyne Olison. Charlo, 28, posted a $20,000 bond and was released. He faces one felony charge of assault on a family or house member with intent to impede circulation, according to Dallas County Police deputy Raul Reyna.

According to the grand jury indictment issued on June 19, Charlo allegedly squeezed Olison’s neck and forced her against a fence, floor and railing “on or about” May 17. He also allegedly pulled her hair.

”[Charlo] committed the said offense by intentionally, knowingly, and recklessly impeding [Olison’s] normal breathing and circulation of blood by applying pressure to [her] throat and neck and by blocking [her] nose and mouth,” the indictment read.

Charlo (31-0, 15 KO) had been on the road potential stardom, shedding his reputation as a poor finisher with savage knockouts of John Jackson, Charles Hatley, and Erickson Lubin. A unification bout with Jarrett Hurd seemed feasible.

If these charges are true, all of that should go up in smoke. It won’t, but it should.