American boxer Jermall Charlo is a prototype of the modern Black athlete, Showtime boss Stephen Espinoza says

• America's best middleweight Jermall Charlo fights Juan Macias Montiel on Saturday.
• The Premier Boxing Champions on Showtime event takes place on Saturday June 19, Juneteenth.
• It is an event that may become a staple part of boxing's calendar, Stephen Espinoza said.
• Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

American boxer Jermall Charlo is "a prototype of the modern Black athlete," according to Showtime Sports President Stephen Espinoza.

One of boxing's most powerful figures, Espinoza spoke to Insider ahead of Charlo's upcoming fight against Juan Macias Montiel, in which he will defend his WBC middleweight title.

"He is someone who knows what he wants, is focused on getting it, and he's not letting anyone stand in his way," Espinoza said of Charlo. "He's a master of his own domain, self-determined, and in charge of his own career."

There is significance to Charlo's June 19th fight date against Montiel which will be broadcast on Showtime from 9 p.m ET.

Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day, is a holiday that has its origins in Galveston, Texas, and is designed to honor the emancipation of people enslaved in the United States on June 19, 1865. On that day, Union soldiers traveled to Galveston Bay, Texas, and announced that the region's 250,0000 enslaved African Americans were emancipated.

Though it has been celebrated since the 19th century, it has, according to the New York Times, generated new awareness in light of civil rights protests like those that followed the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin in 2020. On Thursday, President Biden signed a bill into law to make June 19 a national holiday.

When Showtime recently announced its summer and fall schedule of events in conjunction with one of the sport's big fight firms, Premier Boxing Champions, there was a note on the June 19 fight between Charlo and Montiel.

This event, which will take place in Charlo's hometown of Houston - a one-hour drive from Galveston - was to be a "Juneteenth Day celebration."

From the "Galveston Giant" Jack Johnson becoming the first Black heavyweight champion in 1908, through to boxing's first billionaire fighter, Floyd Mayweather, boxing's history is rich with Black athletes and stories.

Insider asked Charlo and Espinoza if an event like this, that brings together elite boxing on Juneteenth weekend, adds to the vast Black contribution throughout boxing history.

"Of course," Charlo told Insider.

"Black history and boxing history, at the same time, is one of the things that make the Juneteenth fight so relevant."

Espinoza added: "Like in other sports and other segments of society there are untold tales of injustices that have happened along the way, and some of those are given more attention now, having been overlooked from the Tulsa massacre to Juneteenth.

"If building something around Juneteenth helps boost it in some conversation and elevate it in the mainstream, then I think all of us are all for it."

A Juneteenth fight festival may become a staple part of boxing's calendar

A Juneteenth boxing event has been a long time coming. Decision-makers at Premier Boxing Champions and Showtime Sports have been talking for years about creating a new kind of event in the combat sports calendar.

But deciding to hold a show on the actual June 19 date came organically, according to Espinoza.

And now that it is here, PBC and Showtime believe it may well become an annual event.

It has become traditional for fighters to box on days significant to their culture. Popular Irish American fighters often fight on St. Patrick's Day in New York City or Boston, while both Mexican Independence Day and Cinco de Mayo are huge days for Mexican and Mexican American fighters.

Born and raised in Texas, Espinoza said there's already great awareness of Juneteenth in his home state, but that it has become more prominent in the past year in light of the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement.

"Over the last year with a lot of the social justice protests and focus on the Black community, Juneteenth is one of the things that's been elevated in the conversation.

"Juneteenth originated in Texas because that's where they got word and support and enforcement of the emancipation proclamation," he said.

"It's been a conversation for a while, two to three years, about creating or trying to find experiences, dates, and venues that provide a turbo boost to an event.

"It's been done very effectively with the Mexican and Mexican American holidays in boxing where it's become an institution, and elevates the event."

The question for Espinoza and the powerbrokers at Premier Boxing Champions was: "Where can we go?"

They considered honing in on Gervonta Davis, one of boxing's most prominent Black athletes, and a wildly popular figure across many states, including Georgia, where he fights next weekend.

In conversations with Insider, Leonard Ellerbe, the CEO of Mayweather Promotions and Davis' promoter, has frequently referred to Atlanta, Georgia's biggest city, as "Black Hollywood."

This is a nod to the city's status as a hub for Black culture, where Black-owned businesses, entertainers, and political leaders thrive.

However, organizers of the Charlo fight decided the event belonged in Texas because of the day's historic links to the state.

"That's where it fits best," Espinoza said.

"We'd like to make this a continuing tradition. It's something that I think could be a source of pride and a boost for the sport to continue to do something like this."

Charlo, meanwhile, has continued aspirations of dominating the middleweight division.

"I want to put on a show, and do it for the people."