Tim Tszyu sets up Brian Castano world title fight with win over Takeshi Inoue

Tim Tszyu's win over Takeshi Inoue has him perfectly placed to fight for a world title - here's how, when and why that could happen.

Tim Tszyu has revealed he wants to fight Brian Castano in the United States to become world champion, after demolishing Takeshi Inoue over 12 rounds on Wednesday night.

Tszyu was ready to make a statement to the world, and so he did by breaking down granite-chinned Takeshi Inoue over 12 rounds before putting the super-welterweight kings on notice.

First would be WBO champion Brian Castano, for who Tszyu is the No.1 mandatory challenger.

"I would like to take [his title] in the US and then bring it back to Australia, do it the right way," Tszyu said.

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"It has always been a dream of mine, since I was a young kid, to fight over there."

Tszyu improved his perfect record to 20-0 (15KO) with a dominant victory over Inoue, winning 120-107, 120-107, 119-108 on the judges’ cards after 12 brutal rounds.

He then announced in the ring: “Finish your honeymoons, get in the gym, start training, because I’m coming for all of you, every single one of you."

Tim Tszyu just misses with an overhand right.

Tszyu dropped Inoue in the 12th round with a right hand as Inoue stumbled backward and chased him around the ring until the final bell.

The 27-year-old Australian retained his WBO Global and WBO Asia-Pacific super-welterweight titles while handing Inoue (17-2-1, 10KO) his second defeat, the first was to undefeated world champion Jaime Munguia.

Tszyu had risked his shot at Castano, and the expected $2 million pay-day that comes with it, by taking on Inoue.

He is already the No.1 mandatory challenger, but not to worry, he had Inoue’s measure from the opening bell, in front of a raucous crowd of 10,752 people at Qudos Bank Arena.

Tszyu tested Inoue’s chin with the uppercut in the first round.

By the second, a large welt had developed over Inoue’s left eye from Tszyu’s right hooks.

In round three he tagged Inoue with a flush straight right, then landed two striking uppercuts and body shots.

Tszyu then concentrated on the body in round four, before rocking Inoue with several uppercuts in round five after catching him with back turned off a break and then pounding him in the corner.

Inoue let out a pained gasp at the end of the sixth round after being smashed to the body with a hook.

One tough dude! Takeshi Inoue is off to the hospital to get checked. He deserves his Fanta #TszyuInoue pic.twitter.com/f8joHzfEih

— Ben Damon (@ben_damon) November 17, 2021

He was wobbled in the seventh and generally overpowered.

Considering Inoue’s size, it was surprising to see Tszyu walk him down with ease and push him backwards.

Tszyu nullified Inoue’s greatest weapon, the overhand right, with brilliant defence, smirking each time Inoue missed the punch or had it blocked.

While Tszyu has earned the moniker “Soul Taker” for his thudding body blows, he showed a zest for the uppercut in this fight and constantly tagged Inoue with it.

Tszyu has won five fights over the past 15 months, having taken the mantle of Australian boxing king from Jeff Horn in August 2020, to become the WBO No.1.

Tim Tszyu lands a short left on Inoue.

Castano has been trying to organise a rematch against WBC, WBA and IBF champion Jermell Charlo early next year after their unification bout ended in a draw.

However, the IBF has thrown a spanner in the works by insisting Charlo defend their belt against mandatory challenger Bakhram Murtazaliev, who has already been paid step-aside money twice so Charlo could pursue other fights.

While it was thought Murtazaliev would accept a third step-aside fee to allow the unification rematch to proceed, there has been no resolution despite weeks of negotiation.

It leaves open the possibility that Charlo will be forced to defend his IBF belt, leaving Castano no option but to face Tszyu for his belt.

Castano won the WBO title against Patrick Teixeira on February 13, and technically must have a mandatory defence within 12 months.

So Tszyu’s team is eyeing a showdown against the Argentinean next February if the WBO orders it, pending the Charlo situation.

Tszyu showed he is more than ready for them all.

Originally published as Tim Tszyu sets up Brian Castano world title fight with win over Takeshi Inoue

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