‘The guy is just a hater’: Tszyu blasts ‘disrespectful’ claim ahead of boxing blockbuster

Tim Tszyu has branded Oscar De La Hoya a “hater” and “jealous” after the Hall of Famer this week revealed he would be brushing Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez’s Las Vegas blockbuster for UFC 306 — which is taking place just 10 minutes down the road at the famed Sphere.

The Australian is also backing Canelo to produce a performance to rival a showcase that UFC boss Dana White is not only dubbing “the greatest sporting event of all time”, but what, in part, somewhat ironically, will pay host to a long history of Mexican combat superstars — including Alevarez.

BOXING: TSZYU V MURTAZALIEV | Tim Tszyu faces off against undefeated IBF super welterweight champ Bakhram Murtazaliev | SUN 20 OCT 11AM AEST | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.

On the eve of a huge weekend for fight fans, Tszyu is tipping Canelo to need less than six rounds before he finishes Puerto Rico’s Edgar Berlanga at T-Mobile Arena this Sunday (Australian time).

Only six weeks out from his own championship bout against undefeated IBF super welterweight champ Bakhram Murtazaliev, Tszyu has been invited to attend the Las Vegas blockbuster, where he is currently in camp with his team.

It will be Tszyu’s first time back inside T-Mobile Arena since losing his March world title bloodbath against towering US southpaw Sebastian Fundora.

The headliner also presents Tszyu a chance to watch, up close, the super middleweight king who remains on his hitlist of future rivals – alongside the likes of Terence Crawford, Jermell Charlo and Errol Spence Jnr.

Proving Las Vegas is undeniably the world’s fight capital, the Canelo showcase is taking place in direct opposition to the UFC’s own hyped Sphere event, which will be headlined by colourful superstar Sean O’Malley and an LED showcase worth a whopping $20 million.

Wonderfully for Australian fight fans, both UFC 306 and the Canelo headliner will be available live on Main Event and Kayo.

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Earlier this week, De Ha Hoya made headlines when the legendary boxer-turned-promoter announced he would be skipping “another lame Canelo fight” in favour of the UFC event.

He also called the champion’s bout with Berlanga a “snoozefest” before adding that “it’s just robbery at this point”.

Yet speaking with Fox Sports Australia this week, Tszyu praised the T-Mobile Arena bout and suggested De La Hoya’s comments were simply being driven by what have been increasing tensions between the pair ever since their promotional relationship ended in 2020.

Before the split, Alvarez spent nearly 10 years with Golden Boy Promotions.

Yet while Tszyu hailed the undefeated Berlanga (22-0) as an “elite” opponent, and said he was extremely excited for the headliner, he also tipped the Puerto Rican will need to produce the performance of his life to pass the halfway point of his headliner against Alvarez.

“I think Canelo stops him within the first six rounds,” Tszyu said of the WBO and WBC super middleweight champ. “He’s just too big, too strong and too experienced.”

Told De la Hoya had branded the bout a snoozefest, Tszyu continued: “I think it’s disrespectful, Oscar saying that.

“But the guy is just a hater.

“Big, big hater.

“He’s jealous of Canelo making more money than him.

“At the level Canelo is at, there’s no such thing as fighting bums.

“All the guys are elite.

“He’s also fought his way into this position now where he can dictate who he fights next … that’s what happens when you’ve fought the best of the best and won.”

So no fan of Golden Boy then?

“I used to like him,” Tszyu laughed, “until he started wearing lingerie.

“But, man, I don’t judge.

“It’s just not something I’d do personally, or something the people I do like would do.”

Elsewhere, Tszyu admitted to having no idea how he would feel walking back inside T Mobile Arena, where he suffered a contentious, and bloody, split decision loss earlier this year.

In the months since, Tszyu has not only been linked to a Fundora rematch, but also potential fights against Crawford, Erickson Lubin and the undefeated Vergil Ortiz Jnr – who is himself promoted by De La Hoya.

Yet despite coming off a loss last start, Tszyu’s promoters No Limit have put him straight back into a championship bout, which will take place in Orlando, Florida on Sunday, October 20 (Australian time).

Asked about attending the Canelo fight, he laughed: “It’s something different to sitting around here on a Saturday night having a barbecue.

“But I’m excited, man.

“Massive card, T Mobile Arena …”

How do you reckon it will feel going back there for the first time?

“Ah, good question,” he replied. “I guess we’ll see.

“I know that even just driving past it a few times has given me a feeling of wanting to get back there, of wanting to get redemption.”

Elsewhere, UFC boss White revealed his blockbuster Sphere event, which has been billed as tribute to Mexico’s combat sports history – and includes a host of Mexican fighters – would also pay homage to Canelo.

He added that De La Hoya’s comments were simply a case of the promoter “trying to s*** on Canelo”.

“And I said it a million times, I respect Canelo,” White said.

“I like Canelo.

“Met him, he’s a nice guy.

“I’m saying that that night (at UFC 306).

“We’re talking about the history of Mexico and the history of the people and their traditions and the impact that they’ve had on combat sports.

“Somebody said to me, ‘So you’ll be celebrating Canelo that night?’ Yes, we are.

“Canelo is a big part, he’s a big part of the night.

“Julio Cesar Chavez, Salvador Sanchez, how are you going to do all the baddest dudes that have ever come out of Mexico and not talk about Canelo too?”