Jermall Charlo/Photo courtesy of BoxRec.com

Jermall Charlo of Houston accomplished a lot at junior middleweight. He won a major title and successfully defended it three times, but it’s time for him to explore the opportunities at middleweight.

Charlo (25-0, 19 KOs) will take his first crack at 160 pounds Saturday when he tangles with Jorge Sebastian Heiland of Argentina underneath the Mikey Garcia-Adrien Broner junior welterweight main event at Barclays Center in Brooklyn (on Showtime). Charlo, 27, is anxious to get going.

“I know that Jorge is a come-forward kind of fighter,” he said. “He’s going to try to put a lot of pressure on me. It’s my debut at 160 pounds, so I get a chance to go up against someone who’s never been knocked out before and who has knocked out known fighters. I’m preparing for the best of him.”

Heiland (29-4-2, 16 KOs), who knocked out former middleweight contender Matthew Macklin in the 10th round in November 2014, believes perhaps Charlo has bitten off more than he can chew.

“The key for Jermall will be his speed,” said Heiland, 30. “He’s a fast boxer, but he’s jumping up a division. I’ve been at this weight almost my whole career. I know he will be prepared, so I have to be, too. Without a doubt, it will be a battle.”