Australian boxer Tim Tszyu’s slated mega-fight with Jermell Charlo is formally off after the American opted to tackle Mexican celebrity Canelo Álvarez as an alternative.
Charlo will transfer up two divisions to fight Álvarez for the undisputed super-middleweight crown in Las Vegas on 30 September.
That date is exactly the deadline the WBO had imposed for Tszyu and Charlo to sq. off for all 4 super-welterweight belts.
Tszyu and Charlo had initially been scheduled to fight on 29 January earlier than Charlo reported two damaged bones in his left hand final Christmas.
With Charlo transferring up to problem the so-called face of boxing, the WBO is anticipated to raise the undefeated Tszyu from interim to full world champion.
But Saturday’s shock revelation continues to be a hammer blow to the Australian.
Tszyu had retained the interim title with a spectacular first-round knockout of Mexican Carlos Ocampo on the Gold Coast two weeks in the past.
Asked after that victory if he anticipated Charlo to entrance up and step into the ring with him, Tszyu rejected the suggestion the American was evading him.
“He hasn’t been dodging me,” Tszyu mentioned. “He’s been injured.”
Tszyu had seemingly modified tune after listening to the information, suggesting Charlo was ducking the world title fight.
after publication promotion
“Canelo ducks benavidez. Charlo ducks Tszyu,” he mentioned on Instagram.
Injured or in any other case, Tszyu (23-0, 17KO) is now one of the vital averted boxers on the planet.
Team Tszyu is known to have been blindsided by the Charlo-Álvarez plans and solely came upon by way of social media on Saturday morning.
The Álvarez-Charlo blockbuster is believed to be the primary ever showdown between two undisputed divisional champions.
Discussion about this post