By Robert Segal: WBO mandatory Tim Tszyu says he’s eager to give undisputed junior middleweight champion Jermell Charlo a fight that he’s never been in during his career.
Tszyu (21-0, 15 KOs) has rejected Charlo’s idea of him facing Sebastian ‘The Towering Inferno’ Fundora, and he’d fight the winner of those two.
With Tszyu’s #1 ranking with the World Boxing Organization, there’s no need for him to face Fundora. It’s up to Jermell whether he wants to defend his WBO belt or give it up by having it stripped from him.
It’s understandable why Charlo (35-1-1, 19 KOs) is showing no interest in fighting the heavy-handed Tszyu, who would be even more of a nightmare than former WBO 154-lb champion Brian Castano.
Tszyu passed his recent test with flying colors, beating contender Terrell Gaushua by a 12-round unanimous decision in his U.S debut on March 26th.
After a slightly rough start in which Tszyu walked into a shot and was dropped, he came back strong to defeat Gaushua by the scores 114-113, 116-111, and 115-112.
The score that made the most sense of the three was 116-111. If not for the flash knockdown in the first, Tszyu would have won by a lopsided decision.
“I’m so keen and eager for the fight. I went and watched Charlo-Castano live & in person because I thought I was the next one in line,” said Tim Tszyu to PBC Podcast about his desire to face Jermell Charlo next.
“I’m eager for the fight. It’s a good fight and will attract a lot of interest worldwide, especially here in Australia. It’s always great to fight for a belt, and to fight for all the belts is even better.
“Our crowds are pretty wild in Australia. Charlo played it pretty smart,” said Tszyu about Jermell’s rematch with WBO 154-lb champion Brian Castano last May.
“I didn’t expect him to trade punches to stand his ground and just stay there and trade. I thought he was going to be boxing & moving. He usually doesn’t like too much pressure. He played it pretty smart and used the game plan quite well.
“When the pace slowed down with Castano, that’s when Charlo had control and was able to breathe and make his shots more powerful. When Castano put the pace on, the shots weren’t as crispy.
“I have to come really smart in this fight. I see Charlo has got power and has that one punch that changes everything. You’ve got to give him a fight that he’s never been in and give him hell. I’ve got that type of style that can give hell [to Jermell].
“My main concern is I want to fight for the belts,” said Tszyu when told that Jermell wants him to fight Sebastian ‘The Towering Inferno’ Fundora next, and he would fight the winner.
“In all honesty, I just want the belt. I want Charlo because he’s the top one in the division,” said Tszyu.
