By Robert Segal: WBO 154-lb mandatory challenger Tim Tszyu says he views undisputed junior middleweight champion Jermell Charlo as a typical flashy, trash-talking type of person, and he can’t wait to punch him in the face to rip his four titles away from him later this year.
Tszyu (21-0, 15 KOs) and his management & trainer believe Charlo (35-1-1, 19 KOs) will take the fight with him rather than vacating the four titles to move up to 160.
The way the 27-year-old Tszyu sees it, Jermell had to labor for years to become the undisputed champion at junior middleweight, and he’s not going to relinquish his belt after having captured the final strap against Brian Castano on May 14th.
If Jermell were to vacate now with Tszyu on his doorstep, forcing the contest, it would be viewed as a sign of the Texas native hoisting the white flag of surrender, ready to retreat to save his tail from a potential loss.
“He’s on a high, and he’s got all the belts. If you fight someone like that and take it away from them, it can’t be sweeter,” said Tim Tszyu to the media about his goal to dethrone undisputed 154-lb champion Jermell Charlo.
Jermell’s tenth-round knockout win over WBO 154lb champion Brian Castano in their rematch on May 14th in Carson, California, has him on cloud nine, believing that he’s invincible.
But for Charlo to be the best at 154, he will need to prove it against a much more significant threat than the volume puncher Castano, who had very little power. That’s where Tszyu comes in.
He’s a huge puncher, a far more dangerous fighter than Castano, and someone who will put Jermell under severe duress.
“It’s easier said than done, but I’ll prove it,” Tszyu continued when asked why he’ll defeat Jermell. “I know in my heart. I know myself that I can do it. The boys know I can do it.
“To show the world. I’ll probably not be the favorite for the first time, which is good. Jermell is just the typical flashy, talk-smack type of guy. There’s no better way than to shut him up and punch him in the face. That’s what I want to do.
“This is what I’ve ever worked for. I’m 27-years-old. It’s happened this early in my career, and it’s great,” said Tszyu. “I wouldn’t mind America [to fight Jermell Charlo]. Anywhere, I couldn’t care less.
“Four belts on the line, I couldn’t care less where I fight. This is what you work for. Everything for this fight is the belts. When you’re a boxer growing up, this is what you dream of.
“For him [Jermell], he feels like this is probably just another walk in the park. But for me, this is everything I’ve ever worked for. Pressure? How did I handle it before? Easy work,” Tszyu said when asked how he’ll handle the pressure of fighting Charlo.
