Tim Tszyu v Brian Castano: Drawn fight gives Australian boxer shot at world title

A staggering series of events have put Australian boxer Tim Tszyu on the cusp of being crowned world champion.

NEWCASTLE, AUSTRALIA – JULY 07: Tim Tszyu is interviewed after beating Stevie Sparks during the WBA Oceania WBO Global super welterweight title fight between Tim Tszyu and Stevie Spark at Newcastle Entertainment Centre on July 07, 2021 in Newcastle, Australia. (Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)

One of the most farcical judging decisions in recent memory has inadvertently put Tim Tszyu on the path to fight Brian Castano for the world title next.

In a shock development, Tszyu could be fighting Castano for the WBO super-welterweight belt in his next outing, which could happen in November, and the Australian star has declared: “It’s hunting season”.

Tim Tszyu could be set for a massive world title fight in his next bout.

This comes after last weekend’s draw between Castano and WBC, WBA and IBF champion Jermell Charlo in their unification bout, largely due to the ridiculous scoring of judge Nelson Vazquez who had it 117-111 to Charlo when most observers had Castano winning.

The split draw — judge Steve Weisfeld had it 114-113 for Castano while judge Tim Cheatem scored it 114-114 even — meant no unified champion was declared and Castano and Charlo left with the belts they came with.

Jermell Charlo (L) and Brian Castano’s fight ended in a draw.

Stunningly, the IBF has now ordered Charlo to defend that belt against mandatory challenger Bakhram Murtazaliev from Russia.

That means a Charlo-Castano rematch for all four title belts is no longer possible as their next fight.

Charlo has 30 days to respond, but if he chooses not to defend his IBF belt, he will be stripped.

Now that is the case, the WBO is likely to order Castano to defend his belt against the No. 1 mandatory – Tszyu.

“I’ve put myself in the position, I work super hard, I’m fully focused, this is what I do for a living so I’m all in,” Tszyu said.

“If I wasn’t ready I wouldn’t be doing this.

“For me, this is hunting season. I have an obsession to take all the big boys out.”

Tim Tszyu celebrates his win over Stevie Spark.

Tszyu’s manager Glen Jennings, alongside promoters No Limit, had been working on a plan to fight either Tony Harrison or Liam Smith – both former world champions – in September, before the IBF made their unexpected announcement.

“The IBF has mandated Charlo to fight Murtazaliev, what that means is the WBO may well follow suit based on the fact Brian Castano and Jermell Charlo won’t have the rematch option as their next fight,” Jennings said.

“Because the IBF have jumped so quickly with that mandate for Charlo, the WBO could follow and mandate Castano to fight Tim, which means Tim is in the driver’s seat for that world title fight next.

“It all still hinges on the WBO making their decision on timing, and also depends on how Castano’s people want to handle that.

“It’s a big step forward in the right direction, but we won’t be able to give anyone any concrete information because we, like them, are at the behest of the WBO’s mandate committee as to what happens.

“The clock’s been ticking for some time for that September fight, nothing really changes in terms of what we’re trying to do, it may be that we just change the dates, we’re lucky we’ve got the rest of year to get our plans in place.

“But gosh, it’s hard to concentrate when you know you could get the nod for the world title next.

“It’s a head-spin for us, we’re still moving forward with great anticipation and excitement for Tony Harrison, or Liam Smith, or anyone ranked in the top five who signs, but we have to wait and see what happens with a world title mandate which would overtake everything.

“How many other fighters in the world would love to have this problem?”

Tszyu (19-0, 15KO) says a showdown against Argentina’s undefeated champion Castano (17-0-2, 12KO) next would not be too much too soon, having watched the unification fight last weekend at his Sydney home.

“It was very tentative from both parties, I think Castano did enough to win in all honesty, but nothing special in my eyes,” Tszyu said.

“I think they’re both great fighters, but I’m not worried.

Jermell Charlo (R) and Brian Castano (L) exchange punches.

“It’s going to be a big challenge, a great step up in my career, I believe I’m ready for this type of stuff.”

Tszyu prefers to stay busy and fight every two to three months.

However, this latest development means the planned September bout will be scrapped, and his next ring appearance in November will be four months after his knockout of Steve Spark on July 7.

“I’ve got time to become obsessive about everything I do now,” Tszyu said.

“It’s the time to really step up everything I’ve ever worked for because everything is coming along, everything is so close, it’s just around the corner.

“Now it’s only going to be the big boys, I’ve got to step up. Once I get in there I’ll be 150 per cent ready, rather than everything being a rush.”

Originally published as Tim Tszyu v Brian Castano: Drawn fight gives Australian boxer shot at world title