In a major disappointment for Australian boxing sensation Tim Tszyu, his highly anticipated world title unification bout against undisputed champion Jermell Charlo has been officially scrapped.
Charlo, the super welterweight champion, has instead decided to move up two weight divisions for a showdown with super middleweight undisputed champion Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, who boasts an impressive record of 59-2-2 with 39 knockouts.
Tszyu, who is the mandatory WBO challenger for Charlo’s title, was primed for a clash in Las Vegas scheduled for October, which could have seen him become the 10th undisputed champion in the four-belt era.
Meanwhile, Alvarez, aged 32, was initially set to face Jermall Charlo the WBC middleweight champion, despite Jermall’s two-year hiatus due to personal reasons.
Tim Tszyu’s remark on Jermell Charlo and Canelo Alvarez bout
Tszyu was taken aback by an unexpected twist when Charlo and Alvarez announced their face-off on September 30 in Las Vegas. This historic fight will mark the first time in the four-belt era that two fighters actively holding undisputed titles will go head-to-head.
The matchup is expected to generate immense interest from a global audience and secure Charlo a significantly larger payday compared to a bout against Tszyu.
Jermell Charlo will face Canelo, which means Tim Tszyu won’t have his shot at Charlo for all four belts at 154.
Tszyu told ESPN “[Charlo] had one last fight in him because he was going to lose. So he took the one with the bigger pay. He's a businessman."https://t.co/3IhYjbI7Tn
— Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) July 4, 2023
In response to this shocking announcement, Tim expressed his belief that Charlo is evading their mandatory world title fight. Accusing him of ‘ducking’ the Australian challenger.
Tszyu told ESPN “[Charlo] had one last fight in him because he was going to lose. So he took the one with the bigger pay. He’s a businessman.”
Tim Tszyu and Jermell Charlo feud
In March, Tim secured the interim WBO super-welterweight title by delivering a ninth-round knockout against Tony Harrison in Sydney. Tszyu had aspirations of elevating his status by facing Jermell Charlo for a chance to upgrade his belt.
However, Charlo’s upcoming encounter with Canelo has seemingly dashed Tszyu’s hopes for that particular matchup.
The future of the WBO championship remains uncertain, with only a few possible scenarios. Considering Charlo’s move up to the super-middleweight division to take on Canelo. It seems improbable for him to return to the 154-pound weight class.
Their impending clash is already being promoted as a battle of undisputed champions. Suggesting that Charlo might retain his titles until after the reported date of September 30, as per the usual boxing tradition.
Another possibility is that the WBO title becomes vacant. Leaving Tszyu with the option to fight another contender for the championship strap. However, based on remarks from WBO President Francisco Valcarcel. It appears unlikely that such an opportunity will materialize for Tim.
The exact course of action for the WBO championship remains to be seen as the situation develops further.
