Tim Tszyu has sensationally agreed to once again gamble on his unified world title shot with Jermell Charlo — revealing he will now throw down in June before finally taking on the super welterweight king.
In a huge twist to his world title aspirations, Tszyu has told Fox Sports Australia his Charlo blockbuster has again been delayed as the champ endures a longer-than-expected recovery from that now infamous broken left hand.
While the undefeated Sydneysider is frustrated by yet another delay – “how long can you keep postponing a fight?” – he is refusing to stay idle.
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Despite having only recently returned home from a European holiday, Tszyu has already asked manager Glen Jennings and promoter No Limit to find him an Australian headliner by “early June”.
Tszyu said a win there would then see him face Charlo “at the end of August, early September”.
Asked if he was frustrated by the American superstar again delaying their hyped title showdown, Tszyu replied: “Oh, for sure.
“The bloke hasn’t fought for 12 months.
“How long can you keep postponing a fight?”
Tszyu added that he was unsure if the broken hand was worse than initially thought, given all indications were that the pair would be ready to fight by July.
“I’m not sure,” he shrugged of the delay. “But the medical reports say so (that he should be healed).
“All I can do is focus on myself.”
Tszyu then added the most likely scenario was that Charlo, having watched the Harrison bout, was now well aware of the challenge ahead and wanted to give himself as much time as possible to prepare.
“I think he understands this isn’t an easy fight for him,” Tszyu continued. “And so he wants to be 120 per cent ready.
“I think before he was taking me lightly.
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“Saying he was going to beat me with one hand. That he was ready to fight with one hand.
“Now he knows though.
“So he’s taking his time. He will try and postpone it for as long as he can.”
The news of a second postponement comes only three weeks after Tszyu claimed the WBO interim title with a brutal finish of American Tony Harrison.
While Tszyu was initially meant to fight Charlo for all four super welterweight belts in January, the bout was canned after the champ suffered a broken hand during training at Christmas.
Rather than wait however, the Aussie then took on – and demolished – top five contender Harrison, who also doubled as the only man to beat Charlo as a professional.
So now with another delay, Tszyu will put his interim title on the line in another Australian headliner.
But as for who he wants?
“Somebody that is going to give me a challenge,” he said.
“I want to keep improving and have that attitude of fear no one, fight anyone.
“For me, the main factor is growth. Staying active, getting another style in front of me and being able to adapt to anyone.”
Tszyu said the opportunity to take another big fight would only make him a more dangerous opponent when he finally throws down with Charlo.
“And that’s the reason why I’m taking another fight and not waiting,” he said.
“I know it’s only going to be more beneficial.
“Again, as I said before, growth for me has been the No.1 key.
“And it’s showing.”
Asked about his thoughts on the Harrison fight he continued: “I felt comfortable. Relaxed.
“In terms of the pressure I was facing, a loss would have set me back to step one.
“So just to be able to feel comfortable in that situation, express who I was … walk into the way I wanted, fight the way I wanted — it was the real Tim Tszyu in there.”
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