Tim Tszyu camp step up plans for $38m superfight against US sensation Terence Crawford

Tim Tszyu’s camp have ramped up plans for a $38 million superfight with the pound-for-pound champion of the world.

Tim Tszyu’s camp are lining up a $38 million superfight with Terence Crawford. Picture: Louis Grasse/Getty Images

Tim Tszyu’s camp have ramped-up plans for a $38 million superfight with American superstar Terence Crawford that will represent the richest bout in Australian boxing history.

This masthead can reveal Tszyu’s promoters No Limit will meet with representatives of Crawford in Las Vegas on Thursday for the latest round of talks for a proposed showdown with the American pound-for-pound king.

Tszyu is itching for a crack at Crawford and that will become a serious reality if the Australian can dispose of Sebastian Fundora in Sunday’s two-belt super welterweight blockbuster at T-Mobile Arena.

Victory over Fundora will be a gateway to not only the biggest payday of Tszyu’s career, but the highest-grossing bout involving an Australian boxer.

Tszyu’s manager Glen Jennings believes a showdown with ‘Bud’ Crawford will be worth $US25 million ($38m) and could be the Sydneysider’s next fight if he extinguishes the ‘Towering Inferno’ in Sin City.

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Tim Tszyu could have bigger fish to fry than Sebastian Fundora. Picture: Louis Grasse/ Getty Images

“We’re talking big numbers – it would be the highest-grossing fight in Australian boxing history,” Jennings said ahead of Tszyu’s Las Vegas debut.

“I would think $25 million would be the figure we’re looking at for a Crawford-Tszyu fight, and that’s American dollars.

“Crawford is a $US15 million ($22.9m) fighter, so if you draw a line from that, Tim would be around the $US10m ($15.3m) mark, because he would be the unified champion going into that fight (if he beats Fundora).

“A fight like this would be wonderful for Australian boxing and the sport worldwide.

“There is an absolute pathway there now. It’s as serious as it’s ever been and we’ll see where it lands after Tim gets the job done against Fundora on Sunday.

“No other Australian fight would come close to Tszyu-Crawford. This would be a record breaker.”

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The prospect of Tszyu facing Crawford, unbeaten in 40 fights and rated the world’s greatest pound-for-pound pugilist, once seemed a pipedream.

But the dream is now real after Crawford, the undisputed welterweight champion, successfully petitioned to be installed as the mandatory WBO challenger for the winner of the Tszyu-Fundora bout.

Tszyu’s promoters are happy to accommodate Crawford, with No Limit boss George Rose confirming he will escalate negotiations with the American’s camp over the next 24 hours.

A Tszyu-Crawford blockbuster would be worth almost $40 million, eclipsing Australian boxing’s biggest title fights, including the Jeff Horn-Manny Pacquiao clash in 2017 and George Kambosos’ twin unification bouts against Devin Haney in 2022.

“We’ll be sitting down tomorrow (Thursday) with the Crawford team,” Rose said.

“We will discuss a potential superfight with the current pound-for-pound champion of the world.

“Crawford’s team will be here in Vegas so we’ll have some talks.

“We’re also talking with other parties, but our absolute focus is Fundora and making sure things run smoothly this week.

“There’s so many exciting fights that can happen for Tim and Crawford is one of them,

“There are two fighters on the horizon. Crawford is one of those two, I won’t mention the other one, but Crawford is absolutely being considered for Tszyu’s next fight and the fact he has come up to 154 (super welterweight) shows he means business.

“If Tim fights Crawford, which could happen in the next fight or two, it would be the highest-grossing fight in Australian boxing history.

“We’ve seen some blockbuster events like Horn-Pacquiao and there was Kambosos-Haney, but Tszyu-Crawford would smash anything we have seen in Australian boxing.

“It’s possible Tim could have his next fight in Australia (against another opponent) and then face Crawford later in the year.

“There’s a few options on the table.”

A win against Sebastian Fundora could line Tim Tszyu up for a fight against Terence Crawford. Picture: Al Bello/Getty Images

Tszyu scoffed at suggestions he isn’t in the same league as Crawford.

“I belong, I am right at home against him,” he said.

“No one knows the feeling until they get hit by me.

“Why would I be scared of him. He should fear me.”

Jennings is adamant Tszyu could shock the boxing world and inflict the first defeat of the 36-year-old Crawford’s remarkable career.

“Tim can beat Crawford, 100 per cent,” Jennings said.

“Terence is a wonderful fighter, he is the pound for pound king, but he is having to come up in weight.

“Terence is well built, but put Tim next to him and on fight night, he is a bigger man than Crawford.

“I’ve spoken with Crawford’s business manager and attorney. I know how keen they are for the fight and how keen Tim is, but in terms of timing, it has to be commercially right.

“In all honesty, how do you say no to a superfight with Terence Crawford?”

Originally published as Tim Tszyu camp step up plans for $38m superfight against US sensation Terence Crawford