Former undisputed super welterweight champion Jermell Charlo has backed Tim Tszyu to score a statement win over fellow American Errol Spence Jr. – and says he’s ready to face the Aussie straight after.
Charlo, who is plotting a long-awaited return to the ring later this year, hasn’t fought since moving up to challenge Canelo Alvarez in 2023.
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The American superstar never lost his belts in the ring and still views himself as the man to beat at 154 pounds – and now he’s looking to prove it.
Initially, Tszyu was slated to face Charlo back in January 2023, only for the American to fracture his left hand in two places during sparring and the bout was scrapped.
It proved a sliding doors moment. Tszyu went on a highlight-reel tear, taking out Tony Harrison, Carlos Ocampo and Brian Mendoza before suffering title defeats in the US against Sebastian Fundora and Bakhram Murtazaliev.
The Sydneysider has since rebuilt and is now locked in for a multi-million dollar blockbuster with former unified champ Spence – a fight Charlo believes the Aussie gets done.
“I think Tim Tszyu wins that fight,” Charlo told The Last Stand Podcast.
“Watch the fight when he fought Tony Harrison and destroyed him. Styles make fights. I’m just being realistic.
“I’m not hating on nobody. I don’t care if he’s black, white or Mexican. I’m talking about stylistics…
“All I’m saying is that I see Tim Tszyu winning this fight – plain and simple.”
And if he’s right, Charlo wants in next.
“I can go and knock him out after I knock out Fundora — or we can do that fight first,” he said.
“Whoever comes first is who we are going to go with.”
Charlo revealed his team is already exploring options across the division, with talks underway for bouts against Tszyu, Fundora or Spence.
“All of them three guys have agreed to fight me,” he said.
Tszyu, meanwhile, would certainly welcome the fight, telling Fox Sports Australia that they have “unfinished business.”
The Aussie has also taken aim at Charlo’s performance against Alvarez, suggesting the former champ doesn’t fight with heart.
“I don’t really see that savage,” said Tszyu.
“I’ve never really seen him as a savage.
“I’ve seen some world champions who are savage, you know? Beast mode.
“But I’ve never seen that in Charlo.”
No Limit CEO George Rose would also welcome the bout for his star fighter after negotiating for it to take place twice before.
“Charlo’s been the long-standing king at 154, never lost in the division,” the promoter said last year.
“That’s a fight which is long overdue for Tim.”
Charlo also singled out Fundora – the current WBC and The Ring champion – as the division’s top dog, with his team targeting a potential August date.
“He’s got a couple of advantages that he can take advantage of,” he said.
“But he’s got a lot of disadvantages with his advantages…”
“Nobody beat me for my belts,” he added.
“At the end of the day I’ll be Fundora’s biggest fight…
“At 154, who can beat me? None of them.”
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Meanwhile, former world champion Brian Norman Jr. has warned fight fans and Tszyu not to underestimate Spence, revealing the former unified welterweight king is looking “sharp” in camp.
Training alongside Spence in Texas, Norman dismissed suggestions “The Big Fish” is past his best after multiple car accidents, a long layoff and his loss to Terence Crawford.
“The boy is on point – the boy is sharp,” Norman said.
“We went on a run together, five miles, halfway through we started talking.
“To me boxing is 90 per cent mental and he was telling me where his head is at…
“Whoever he is fighting next is in trouble.”
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The Tszyu-Spence blockbuster is still being finalised, with the Gold Coast’s Cbus Super Stadium emerging as a potential venue.
If a deal can’t be reached with the Queensland government, the fight is expected to head to AT&T Stadium – home of the Dallas Cowboys – likely in July or August.
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