By Dan Ambrose: WBO 154-lb champion Brian Castano says he is not interested in fighting his WBO mandatory Tim Tszyu next because the fight he wants is against IBF/WBA/WBC champion Jermell Charlo.
Tszyu would be a tough fight for Castano, and the money wouldn’t likely be as good as what he would get in a rematch against Jermell (34-1-1, 18 KOs) on Showtime PPV.
Castano (17-0-2, 12 KOs) is still angry about not being given a victory against the A-side fighter Charlo earlier this month on July 17th in San Antonio, Texas. Brian appeared to do enough to win, but the judges surprisingly scored it m 114-114, 117-111 for Jermell, and 114-113 Castano.
You can say that Castano (17-0-2, 12 KOs) has unfinished business with Jermell, and the two would like to meet with all four titles on the line for the rematch. If not, they’ll need to decide whether to vacate.
Castano wants a rematch with Jermell
Max Kellerman: “I felt that you beat Jermell Charlo. It was a terrific performance from both of you,” said Max Kellerman on Max on Boxing in talking to Brian Castano. “How do you feel about the fight now?”
Brian Castano: “I won this fight,” said Castano. “Charlo is a great champion but me too. I want the rematch. I’m very sad about that. I need the rematch.”
Kellerman: “Brian, you have a draw against Erislandy Lara. Canelo barely beat Lara. That fight could have gone either way,” said Kellerman. “You have a draw with Jermell Charlo, but again, most people felt you won.
“But Charlo came on late, he seemed to hurt you late, and that is sometimes the last thing people are thinking about, what happened What do you need to do to not just draw with Lara and Jermell Charlo but to win with the judges?”
Castano: “Me connecting with great punches and more pressure and more smart with this fight,” Castano said about what he needs to do for him to beat Jermell.
Kellerman: “When you talk about smart pressure, I agree,” said Kellerman. “I thought Charlo would win because I didn’t appreciate your pressure. You apply pressure, but you make the other guy miss as you’re coming in. Your timing as a pressure fighter is very good, and I think your best asset. Can you describe your style?”
Castano: “My style is aggressive,” said Castano. “My style is aggressive, and my heart is my instinct is more strong. I am not awkward. People watched me in the last fight; I am more smart. The people that watched me in my last fight, this is my style.”
Kellerman: “Your style reminds me of Julio Cesar Chavez with the way you time guys, you happy pressure, sometimes off the back foot at times,” said Kellerman.
“You force your opponent to lead, and then you counter, even as you’re applying pressure. I think it’s very high-level stuff.
“Speaking about high-level stuff, there’s a lot of talk about Tim Tszyu being your next fight as a mandatory. How do you feel about fighting Tim Tszyu, Kostya Tszyu’s son and an excellent fighter?”
If Castano can give Tszyu a step aside fee and if Jermell pays his IBF mandatory Bakhram Murtazaliev to step aside, we could see a Charlo-Castano rematch.
However, Tszyu might not be willing to step aside because he understands what it would mean for him if he can get his hands on the WBO belt.
Tszyu fight doesn’t interest Castano now
Castano: “Tim Tszyu is a good fighter, but I need a better fighter,” said Castano. “I respect his career, but he needs more fights. He needs more experience and to fight other opponents.”
Kellerman: “But Brian, if he’s inexperienced a big star in Australia, isn’t it good for you to fight a big star who isn’t experienced enough,” said Kellerman. “You sound like you don’t want to fight Tim Tszyu. Do you want to fight him or no?”
Castano: “I need the fight here, not in Australia. Why he’s not coming here?” said Castano about Tszyu. “I need the fight here, the people watch me, and they know me here in the USA. My work is here in the USA.”
Kellerman: “Before I get to a possible rematch with Jermell because Jermell says he wants a rematch. I want to ask you about fighting Errol Spence in the amateurs,” said Kellerman.
“Erislandy Lara is a draw, Jermell Charlo is a draw, and it could have been a win. Patrick Teixeira was a win.
“They’re talking Tim Tszyu; they’re talking about a rematch with Jermell Charlo. But you fought Errol Spence in the amateurs; you were a decorated amateur; how did that fight go?”
Castano: “I win this fight with Errol Spence in Venezuela. This guy is a good fighter, but two counts in the fight,” said Castano about his win over Spence in the amateurs. “I need a rematch because I need the glory. I need the unification for my people for me. I need it,” said Castano.
Brian may not have any other choice but to defend against Tszyu, given that he’s his mandatory. It’s obviously a hard fight for Castano facing the heavy-handed Tszyu, but the alternative is him losing the WBO belt if he chooses not to defend against him.
Kellerman: “Jermell says he doesn’t want to get a draw where people think he lost,” said Kellerman. “He wants to do it again. He pointed out in his previous rematch [against Tony Harrison], he looked much better in the second fight. Do you think you would like to fight Jermell Charlo again? Do you think he could fight better than he fought you the first time?”
Charlo vs. Castano 2 will be bigger
Castano: “I think the second fight, I need it and maybe he too,” said Castano about Jermell. “I need the rematch because the next fight will be a bigger fight for me. I think I win this fight.
“I need the rematch for the glory to be the first undisputed Latino champion. The first, I am hungry. He’s very strong but me too. The second fight, I’ll be better, I think so. The people need this fight,” said Castano.
Kellerman: “I’d love to see you fight Tim Tszyu, and I’d love to see you rematch Jermell Charlo,” said Kellerman. “The first fight was excellent. If the second fight is better, boxing fans will be in for a treat.”
Jermell and Castano have to win their mandatory defenses before they meet up in a rematch, and there’s no telling what’ll happen.
Charlo has to defend against his IBF mandatory Bakhram Murtazaliev, whereas Castano has to defend against #1 WBO mandatory Tim Tszyu.