Bomb Squad

Charles Hatley Continues Comeback "To be back home on a big card it feels good"

Former 154-Pound WBC Silver champ and world title challenger Charles "The Future" Hatley continues his comeback Saturday night at the Bomb Factory in his home city of Dallas. Hatley sports a 30-2-1 (21) record and is now 36-years-old but appears to have plenty left in the tank. He suffered his second career loss to two Houston Native Jermell Charlo back in 2017 in a scrap for Charlo's WBC 154-pound world title. After taking a year off from the ring, he came back in 2018. The Dallas native has put together four consecutive wins since the loss to Charlo. Fighting once a year from 2018to 2021. He looks to continue that streak Saturday night when he clashes with the battle-tested and very durable Jamshidbek Najmitdinov, 18-2 (14), of Uzbekistan. This bout marks the biggest challenge of Hatley's comeback and is the main event of a card that features Shurretta Metcalf fighting for the NABF Super Bantamweight women's titles and Ray Ximenez in the second fight of his comeback.

It's a big moment for Hatley, whose career has taken him all over the world, including beating Anthony Mundine in Australia. It's a big fight on a big card back home for Hatley who said "To be back home on a big card it feels good, I got all the support I need" Back home in Dallas, there is no shortage of world-class welterweights, the city of home to not only unified champ Errol Spence, but all world undefeated prospect of the year Vergil Ortiz and former 140-pound world champ Maurice Hooker. Fights that Hatley is open to in the future. However those all Dallas showdowns are dependent upon Hatley winning Saturday night. Despite being 36, Hatley is in incredible shape and appeared sharp and as lightning-fisted as ever. He could make the dream of becoming a world champion at 147-pounds a reality. A weight that seems more fitted for Hatley, who said "I am happy to be at 147 I knew if I could make the weight they were gonna be in trouble... and I am making it easy."

That's not great news for the rest of the 147-pound division as Hatley appears to be at his best weight with plenty left in the tank. The next stop is Saturday night at the Bomb Factory in Dallas. Should he defeat Najmitdinov and look impressive in doing so, he could find himself in the world title picture again and this time at his more natural weight of 147.