Tim Tszyu is bizarrely set to host the biggest press conference of his boxing career via Zoom — with American super welterweight king Jermell Charlo refusing to meet the undefeated Australian boxing star face-to-face.
Speaking with Fox Sports Australia on Friday, Tszyu branded Charlo “arrogant and angry” after learning the champ will not attend a proposed Los Angeles press event next week.
While Tszyu has already flown halfway around the world to begin preparations for their January 29 blockbuster – officially announced only in the past 48 hours — Charlo will not be making the flight of less than four hours to talk about it.
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Instead, and despite both rivals being Stateside, they will now discuss their Las Vegas blockbuster online – and separated by some 2500km.
The decision follows several days of discussions by promoters No Limit Boxing, Premier Boxing Champions and TGW Promotions.
Apart from attracting strong interest in the US, next week’s press conference was also set to be attended by a crew of Australian journalists who are currently shadowing the nation’s newest boxing face.
Quizzed on the snub however, Tszyu simply grinned and said he would be happy to answer any questions from his plush rented home in the Los Angeles suburbs.
The 28-year-old did question however if genuine boxing megastars like Floyd Mayweather and Tyson Fury would also brush promoting an event where all four titles were on the line.
“Look, if he doesn’t want to attend a press conference, I don’t care,” Tszyu said.
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“I’m here to fight.
“So doesn’t bother me.
“But if you look at a global superstar like Tyson Fury, he does absolutely everything required to promote a fight.
“And that’s because he understands it.
“He does what’s required and makes however many more millions.
“Floyd Mayweather too, he’s made of money.
“So he’s doing it.
“But Charlo?
“(Laughs) maybe he’s getting paid so well he doesn’t care.
“Or he might just not want to break routine.
“Who knows?
“We’ll both just do it from home I guess.”
Asked if he thought the move was a deliberate ‘up yours’ to Team Tszyu, the Sydneysider continued: “I dunno, man, I really don’t.
“But I’d say Charlo is more known in Australia now than America because he acts like this.
“He’s definitely not a guy I’m ever going to buzz him and say ‘hey, what are you up to?’
“We’re two very different personalities.”
How so?
“I’m low key,” Tszyu continued, smile widening. “But he’s brash, talkative, arrogant.
“(Laughs) And I’m happy.
“But he’s just angry. So as I said, two different people.”
Asked why he thought the champ was so angry, Tszyu replied: “That’s a good question.
“One I might have to ask him myself.”
Early rounds maybe?
“Yeah,” the fighter grinned, “just whisper to him: ‘Hey, stop being so angry’.”
Regardless of the press conference snub, Tszyu looked in sensational shape as he trained on Friday night in front of a handful of spectators including famed American trainer Joe Goossen.
Tszyu added that there was nothing he would learn from Charlo this far out from the fight had they met, despite it being a chance to size up his rival face-to-face.
“For me, looking into a guy’s eyes – it’s nothing,” Tszyu said.
“Because somebody can look tough and stare into your eyes – into your soul – but it can all be a façade.
“Sometimes I’ve looked into people’s eyes and seen things.
“But other times, there’s nothing. It’s a mystery.
“So I understand it’s all part of the business. Part of the show.
“But for me looking it to a guy’s eyes means nothing.”
