‘Bigger fish to fry’: Tszyu reveals hit list after Charlo snubbing
Tim Tszyu says his focus has shifted from collecting belts to targeting big-name opponents after being snubbed by undisputed champion Jermell Charlo, but he still hopes to get the chance to “kick his arse” in the future.
The World Boxing Organisation has mandated for Tszyu and Charlo to fight before September 30, but the latter will instead move up two weight divisions for a shot at Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in Las Vegas on that date. Tszyu, who had waited for the best part of two years for the cocky American, said he was “in a state of shock” after hearing he was being overlooked.
Tim Tszyu has unloaded on Jermell Charlo.
“I’m like, ‘Nah, they’re taking the piss, aren’t they?’ And then on Canello’s [social media] page it’s undisputed versus undisputed. I’m like, ‘what?’” Tszyu said.
“I couldn’t believe it. This is the bloke I’ve always wanted on the hit list, but I guess after a couple of days of that anger that it just moved on.
“When one door closes another one opens up, and I’m 100 per cent positive that there’s gonna be even bigger things on the horizon than little Charlo.”
Tszyu plans to fight in October or November, but an opponent hasn’t yet been locked in. Interim WBC champion Brian Mendoza holds appeal, while Tszyu would welcome a crack at the winner of the Errol Spence jnr versus Terence Crawford bout, or Gennady Golovkin, Bakhram Murtazaliev, Alvarez or even Canelo.
“Me and the whole of Australia wants to kick his arse,” he said of Charlo. “If I was in his position and got offered Canelo, I would take it straight away as well.
“I don’t blame him for taking the Canelo fight, but it’s just a shit go, making me wait all this time. Hopefully, he doesn’t retire after and I can still fight him even if he goes up to 160.
“That’s the plan.”
Tim Tszyu during his win over Carlos Ocampo.Credit: Getty Images
As for who is next?
“They all know who I am there,” he said. “Spence knows that. I welcome Spence with open arms.
“When I’m elevated to WBO champ, there’s much more lucrative fights available. If I’m able to fight a Mendoza and unify with two belts, then there’s even more lucrative fights happening … Triple G [Golovkin]. Now I’m even angry at Canelo.
“He took what I wanted. Now he is part of that list as well.
“I’m gonna be like John Wick. Call me John Wick from now. It’s a hit list.”
The Tszyu-Charlo fight was scheduled for Las Vegas, but there is every chance the Australian will next fight locally, potentially in Sydney.
“When I came into this sport, I thought belts would be cool,” he said. “But my mentality has changed, belts won’t define me.
‘Me and the whole of Australia wants to kick his arse.’
Tim Tszyu on Jermell Charlo
“What will define me is the highlights and the legacy that I keep. Keep making my family, friends and all of Australia proud. [Winning] belts is part of it, I guess, but if there’s no belt then so be, I’ll fight for no belts. I don’t really care. Belts is just a nice little prize to have here …
“We’ll see how long I stay in this division for. Who knows?
“At the end of the day, it’s all about creating highlight reels that can be lived on through, through eternity.
“To make a decent amount of money, to make your family, friends and everyone around you proud. That’s what it’s all about.”
One person who isn’t on Tszyu’s list is Michael Zerafa. Zerafa, ranked No.1 in the World Boxing Association, will fight on the undercard of the Danny Garcia-Erislandy Lara clash in August against an opponent yet to be confirmed. The Victorian is guaranteed a shot against the winner by the end of the year, but Tszyu doesn’t believe he will ever win a world title or be in a lofty enough position to challenge him.
“He ain’t getting no shot. He’s not,” Tszyu said. “He’s not getting a belt and he’s not getting the title shot.
“That’s how it is. Facts: the promoters in America don’t know what to do with the bloke, but that’s why they’re just giving him step-aside money. He got paid about 40 grand to step aside. That’s how he is.
“And he’s gone on at me saying, ‘At least I got step-aside money’. Come on, man. Honestly.”
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