Australia’s Tim Tszyu has declared himself ready for an immediate super fight with the world’s No.1 boxer Terence Crawford, saying: “Go ask him if he’s ready … that’s the real question”.
Already considered the face of Australian boxing, Tszyu is set to be crowned WBO world champion on September 30 – with undisputed super welterweight king Jermell Charlo set to be stripped of the title.
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As announced by the WBO this week, Charlo will be stripped the moment he steps into the ring for his Las Vegas blockbuster against Mexico’s undisputed super middleweight star Canelo Alvarez.
Given Tszyu already boasts the interim WBO strap, his elevation to regular champion then makes it possible for an immediate megabout against US superstar Crawford.
Only last week, boxing’s pound-for-pound No.1 claimed all four welterweight belts with a stunning stoppage win against fellow American Errol Spence Jnr.
Immediately afterwards, ESPN drew up a hitlist of the four most likely rivals for the champion to fight next – with Tszyu named alongside Spence, Charlo and Jaron Ennis.
Given Crawford now boasts the WBO welteweright strap, if he chooses to move up in weight for his next fight he would immediately become the mandatory challenger for the undefeated Tszyu (23-0).
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Asked by Fox Sports Australia if he is ready, right now, for that fight to play out against Crawford, the Sydneysider grinned: “Ask him.
“Go ask him if he’s ready … that’s the real question.”
The Aussie quickly added that he would also “loooooove” a fight with the defeated Spence, but reckons the man who lost all three gold belts to Crawford would have no interest.
Earlier this week, Boxing News rated Tszyu the No.2 option for Spence – behind only a Crawford rematch.
Tszyu, however, does not see it happening against the fighter with whom he already has beef – given Spence publicly backed against him for his fights against both Terrell Gausha and Tony Harrison.
“So I’d still love to fight Errol Spence,” Tszyu said with a grin.
“Looooove to fight Spence.
“But they won’t do it.
“It’s too much of a high risk fight for him.
“High risk, low reward.
“What does he get out of it?”
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With his impending world title now assured, Tszyu will most likely fight in October against Brian Mendoza, who currently holds the interim WBC super welterweight title.
It is unknown at this stage if the WBC will also strip Charlo and anoint Mendoza as the regular champion – which would immediately make their bout a unification blockbuster.
Asked about ESPN putting him up among Crawford’s four best options, Tszyu continued: “To be mentioned as the next fight for the No.1 pound for pound fighter in the world, that shows the level I’m at right now.”
So as for his thoughts on Crawford’s win over Spence?
“Master class,” Tszyu said.
“It was like watching a magician — that’s what it felt like.
“And Errol Spence, he was all out of control.
“His balance was shot.
“The bloke was just, I dunno … he didn’t look right even before the fight.
“And immediately Crawford was in control.
“Countered everything, fought beautifully. Simple boxing.”
While Tszyu was initially slated to fight Charlo for all four super welterweight titles this year, he now has no idea what the American will do after the Alvarez fight.
The Aussie does, however, have a prediction for how that bout plays out.
“Canelo pumps him,” he grinned.
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Elsewhere, Tszyu is also tipping younger brother Nikita to continue his own undefeated run when he headlines his first ever Pay-Per-View against Jack Brubaker in Sydney on August 23.
After disappearing from the fight game for two years, Brubaker returned to the ring in June and found immediate success — defeating Troy O’Meley on a No Limit fight night event.
While the Sydneysider may have earned the win on all three judges scorecards 58-55, he did not impress Tim Tszyu who watching on from home tweeted: “Nikita whoops both of them in the same night at the same time”.
While Tszyu says Brubaker will be the toughest test of his younger brother’s career, he said Nikita also boasts the type of power that could make this a “Gone in 60 Seconds finish”.
The Hordern Pavilion event will also see Aussie fight favourite Liam Wilson return for the first time since being robbed of a world title against Mexican megastar Emanuel Navarrete.
As part of his push back to a championship bout, the Queensland super featherweight will face undefeated Argentinian Carlos Alanis (12-0).
