Koen Mazoudier says he feels sorry for Jermall Charlo after their showdown fell through for the second time – but insists facing another former world champion could leave him with even more to gain.
The Ring reports Charlo has suffered an injury in training camp, forcing the former two-division world champion out of their October 17 clash at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas (October 18 AEDT).
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Former WBA super middleweight champion Jose Armando Resendiz is reportedly set to replace him in the 10-round bout.
No Limit has confirmed Charlo’s withdrawal, but told Fox Sports Australia that Mazoudier’s new opponent had yet to be finalised.
Speaking to Fox Sports Australia after the news broke, Mazoudier was already preparing for the challenge Resendiz would present.
“Ultimately, at this point, I couldn’t really care who’s in front of me,” Mazoudier said.
“Knowing that I’ve got another former world champion, it stays the same. It’s full steam ahead still for me.”
Australia’s Koen Mazoudier and Jermall Charlo
Source: FOX SPORTSIt is another frustrating twist for the Aussie, whose fight with Charlo had already fallen through once this year.
The pair were initially scheduled to meet on the Tim Tszyu–Errol Spence undercard in Sydney in July, before Charlo was denied a visa to travel to Australia.
The matchup was subsequently moved to Las Vegas, on a card headlined by Sebastian Fundora’s world title defence.
Asked what he knew about Charlo’s injury, Mazoudier said he had no details, but questioned whether there was more behind it.
“They’ve said injury. That’s the easiest way to pull yourself out of a fight,” he said.
“I know he’s had different problems and issues getting himself into a fight at this stage.
“I sort of feel sorry for him, like the fact that he can’t pull himself together.
“Ten days out, two times in a row now. It makes me just think there’s something not right in his personal life.”
While the Charlo opportunity has slipped away again, Mazoudier sees plenty of upside in the reported replacement.
Resendiz produced one of boxing’s biggest upsets of 2025 when he defeated Caleb Plant by split decision, derailing plans for a showdown between Plant and Charlo.
The Mexican also has a TKO victory over former unified champion Jarrett Hurd.
The 27-year-old holds a record of 16 wins and three losses, including 11 knockouts, and is coming off a unanimous decision defeat to Jaime Munguia in May.
“He’s a tough Mexican fighter, a former world champion that beat Caleb Plant,” Mazoudier said.
“An awesome test and a massive opportunity for me.”
It would also require some late adjustment after preparing for Charlo.
“He’s a different style, more a come-forward style, heavy hands, sort of tight defence from what I’ve seen of him,” Mazoudier said.
“But ultimately, the way I look at it is, there’s a lot of positives.”
Chief among them is the recognition Mazoudier believes would come with beating a younger, active opponent.
“Beating Charlo would have come with excuses like, ‘He is old and inactive’, and all these different reasons why I’d beaten him,” he said.
“Whereas this guy’s a young, hungry, active former champion.
“There’s going to be no reasons other than me being the better guy on the night.”
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Mazoudier had earlier delivered a simple message on social media: “New opponent, same mission.”
And after watching other Aussie fighters navigate setbacks on their way to major opportunities, he is determined to take the latest disruption in his stride.
“I just roll with the punches,” he said.
“I’ve been around this world long enough now, and seeing guys like Sam Goodman and Liam Paro and these different guys keep getting these setbacks, these extra hurdles before they eventually make it … this is just part of the game.”