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Tim Tszyu dream realised in huge Jermell Charlo announcement

andrew reid
·4-min read
Pictured left to right are boxing rivals Tim Tszyu and Jermell Charlo.
Tim Tszyu and Jermell Charlo have agreed terms on a fight for the undisputed super-welterweight world title. Pic: Getty

Australian boxer Tim Tszyu's dream of fighting for a world title is one step closer to being realised after he agreed terms on a mega fight with undisputed super-welterweight champion Jermell Charlo.

Tszyu has been the WBO's No.1 mandatory challenger for more than a year, prompting the sanctioning body to intervene following Charlo's victory over Brian Castano last month.

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Charlo sealed an impressive round 10 KO victory over Castano last month to become the first ever undisputed super-welterweight champ in the four-belt era.

The American's win in California elevated the 32-year-old to boxing immortality as only the seventh man in the 18-year, four-belt era to claim all major straps in one division.

Now Tszyu can snatch all four belts at once after WBA president Paco Valcarcel confirmed the fight, which will likely happen in the United States towards the end of this year.

The announcement has seen boxing fans take to social media in excitement.

A time and venue must be confirmed by June 20 in what looms as a huge few months for the sport.

A high-profile match-up between Canelo Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin is slated for September, while Terence Crawford is finally set to fight Errol Spence Jr for the undisputed welterweight championship later this year.

"They told us that they have an agreement and that they are looking for a date because big fights are coming and this is one of them," Valcarcel told ESPN Knockout.

Tim Tszyu hoping to follow in famous dad's footsteps

Charlo (35-1-1, 19KO) is ranked among the top 10 pound-for-pound fighters in the world.

As well as his No.2 WBO ranking, Tszyu (21-0, 15KO) is also rated No.2 in the WBC and No.3 in the IBF.

Tszyu has the chance to follow in the footsteps of his father Kostya, who unified the light-welterweight division in 2001 with a second-round knockout of American Zab Judah in Las Vegas.

His promoters from No Limit Boxing are promising to "do everything" to bring his fight to Australia, but the blockbuster is almost certain to take place in the US - and possibly even at the MGM Grand where Kostya Tszyu KO'd the previously unbeaten Judah 21 years ago.

Tim Tszyu could fight Jermell Charlo at the scene of his father Kostya's most famous victory. Pic: Getty/AAP
Tim Tszyu could fight Jermell Charlo at the scene of his father Kostya's most famous victory. Pic: Getty/AAP

The showdown is almost certain to be a spiteful one, with Charlo brutally dismissive of Tszyu after beating Castano to become the undisputed super welterweight champion last month.

Asked by an Australian reporter what his thoughts on Tszyu were after the fight, Charlo referenced the Aussie's knockdown at the hands of Terrell Gausha in his previous fight.

“Didn’t he get dropped? That motherf***er’s out. He got dropped,” Charlo quipped.

“It’s different heat over here in America, baby. It’s different heat in America.

“How much Tim Too, whatever his f***in’ name is, how much they got? How much money they got? F*** you and Tim Kazoo, change the mic.”

with AAP

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