By Jim Calfa: Paulie Malignaggi believes that Jermell Charlo is still too good for Tim Tszyu despite the impressive victory for the Aussie last Saturday night against the aging Tony Harrison in Sydney, Australia.
Even with Charlo (35-1-1, 19 KOs) getting up there in age a little at 32, he still sees him as the best fighter in the junior middleweight division, and capable of beating the younger fighter, 28-year-old Tszyu (22-0, 16 KOs).
Undisputed 154-lb champion Charlo and Tszyu will likely fight next as long as neither of them sustain a bad injury training for their clash.
“You still favor Charlo at this moment, but I tell you what. Tszyu is a hungry guy, he’s a skilled guy. It’s really hard to pick against Charlo right now,” said Paulie Malignaggi to Paulie TV when asked who wins between Tim Tszyu and undisputed junior middleweight champion Jermell Charlo.
“He’s a new guy and a skilled guy. I’ve been impressed with him. Not just with his skills but his determination to go get it,” said Malignaggi about Tszyu. “He still has that determination of youth energy where he’s still trying to accomplish everything.
“Charlo still fights with that anger, still fights with that energy despite not being the youngest guy anymore. He’s in his early 30s. I think it’s a very, very good fight.
“I know [Sebastian] Fundora is tough, and Tszyu is tough. Charlo still has his work cut out for him. He earned his undisputed title. He didn’t just go and get it in an easy route, and yet to keep the undisputed title and defend against these guys, it’s going to be tough.
“I still think Charlo is the best guy in the weight class. I think Tszyu has the possibility to do some things, but so does Fundora. I hope boxing doesn’t pull a boxing, and we don’t get to see these fights.
“Yeah, I think he is. I think Tszyu is better than [Brian] Castano. Castano is slightly skilled but more rough & tough. He’s a good fighter. I think Tszyu is different dimensions. I wonder if he’s as tough because Castano is a really rough guy.
“I don’t think Tszyu is not rough. You seen Tszyu making it rough. I don’t think that’s his main go-to, though. I think Castano’s main go-to is a physical fight. I think Tszyu is physical but he’s not as physical as Castano.”
