Tim Tszyu would have been totally outclassed had his undisputed world title fight with Jermell Charlo gone ahead, says the only man to have defeated the cocky American.
Tszyu is scheduled to fight Tony Harrison in Sydney on March 12, the winner earning the right to take on Charlo for his WBA, IBF, WBC and WBO belts. The Australian was scheduled to fight Charlo in January, but a hand injury to the champion scuppered the bout.
Rather than wait for Charlo to recover, Tszyu will take on Harrison, another big name in the super-welterweight division, for the interim WBO title.
Former world champion Harrison inflicted the only defeat on Charlo, who avenged that loss in a rematch 12 months later. At a press conference confirming Qudos Bank Arena as the venue, Harrison threw bouquets and brickbats at Tszyu when appearing via video link from the United States. The Detroit product’s most cutting remark came when asked who would win a Tszyu-Charlo bout.
“Charlo, easy,” Harrison said.
“That match-up was fan-friendly. Charlo will be coming off fighting [Brian] Castano twice in a row, [and] Tim has the exact same style of Castano, coming forward.
Tim Tszyu at the official launch of his world title fight with Tony Harrison in Sydney.Credit:Gregg Porteous, No Limit Boxing
“They are both tough, they are both aggressive, they both throw tonnes of punches, they both line up the same on the height scale and the reach scale. I just thought Charlo had fought Castano twice. It would have been [like] fighting Castano a third time.
“Charlo would have won easy.”
Charlo unified the division by knocking out Castano in their second bout after their first was controversially declared a draw.
Tszyu brushed off Harrison’s remarks.
“Me and Castano are completely different,” Tszyu said. “He’s much smaller, first of all. Skills-wise and ability, we are completely different.
“In terms of the Charlo-Castano fight, I think Castano won the first fight.
“I don’t have much to say, I’m a man of few words. I’ll let Harrison do the talking.”
Harrison did just that. Having previously branded Tszyu “basic”, the 32-year-old began the press conference declaring he wanted the pair to be “friends” and that the “Soul Taker” was “right at the top of the food chain for toughness.”
However, Harrison expressed surprise that Tszyu had jeopardised his shot at Charlo by taking him on.
“We need to talk to management because for him to be at the doorstep for all the marbles and to accept a fight with the only man that’s beat the man that you were looking to beat, we need to talk to management about this one,” Harrison said.
“We need to go to HR. Something ain’t right about this one.”
