Tim Tszyu could make US debut as co-main event to Jermell Charlo-Brian Castano title bout

Tim Tszyu could make his US debut in the same ring as the two American dangermen that have emerged as his likely world title opponents.

Tim Tszyu and opponent Takeshi Inoue caught up the morning after their fight, praising each other for the 12-round battle.

Tim Tszyu could make his US debut on the same card as the Brian Castano-Jermell Charlo unified title rematch early next year.

The stunning option is being considered by Tszyu’s team after his emphatic victory against tough Japanese opponent Takeshi Inoue, which Castano watched live at 1am in Argentina to gauge his rival.

Americans Tony Harrison and Terrell Gausha have emerged as likely candidates for Tszyu should the super-welterweight unification fight between Castano and Charlo fight be ratified.

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Tim Tszyu put on a clinic against Takeshi Inoue. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty

Castano’s manager Sebastian Contursi told News Corp Australia that it was “inevitable” that Castano and Tszyu would fight at some stage, but talks are already underway for the WBO champion to have the rematch with Charlo, who holds the WBC, WBA and IBF belts.

“We’re not pretending we don’t know who Tim Tszyu is, we watch his fights, he has a lot of potential and seems to be a nice kid,” Contursi said.

“Brian stayed up until 1am to watch his fight in Argentina on ESPN, we know how tough Inoue is, he had a very tough fight against Jaime Munguia, so it was a great fight by Tim.

“I personally think Tim is going to have a great career. We’re very happy to hear that he wants to fight in America.

Jermell Charlo (R) and Brian Castano (L) exchange punches during their Super Welterweight fight this year. Picture: Edward A. Ornelas/Getty

“We are in talks about getting the rematch with Charlo, that is what the boxing world wants to see, so that is our priority. But we know we will meet Tim in the ring eventually.”

Most believe Castano won the unification fight with Charlo in July, but judges scored it a split draw, leaving both men to leave with the belts they entered the ring with.

It can be revealed that should the Castano-Charlo rematch get sanctioned for late February/early March next year, Tszyu (20-0, 15KO) could feature as the co-main event against Harrison or Gausha, with a view to fighting the unified champion should he prevail.

It is one option on the table for Tszyu’s manager Glen Jennings and his promoters No Limit Boxing.

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Their hope is that the unification rematch cannot be held next because of conflict with the IBF, who are insisting that Charlo defend his IBF title against mandatory challenger Bakhram Murtazaliev.

If that IBF fight is enforced, the WBO would likely order the unbeaten Castano (17-0-2, 12KO) to defend his title against Tszyu next.

However, the Castano camp is confident the rematch will be signed off by next week.

In that case, Tszyu could jump on the same card to boost his profile in America, or try to lure Harrison or Gausha to Australia, having sold out the 10,000-seat Qudos Bank Arena against Inoue last Wednesday night.

Tim Tszyu is set to make his US debut next year. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty

Harrison (28-3-1, 21KO) is a former world champion who defeated Charlo, and has already stated that he wants to fight Tszyu in Australia.

“I became champion, and he’s looking to become champion, but he hasn’t fought anybody of the calibre of a fighter like me,” Harrison told the Fighthype website last week.

“So it’s like, ‘Damn, let’s test this guy out. Let’s test this Corvette out and see if it can really go 120 miles per hour’ because they know I’ve been in the ring before, and I’ve gone 120 miles per hour.

“So, I think that’s a challenge for me and a challenge for him, but stuff like that gets me up.

“An unknown gets me up and for me to go to somebody else’s territory where nobody likes me, I wake up for s*** like that. I literally go to bed and wake up for s*** like that.”

US Olympian and WBA No.6 super-welterweight Terrell Gausha looms as a candidate to fight Tim Tszyu next.

Gausha (22-2-1, 11KO), a 2012 Olympian, is another fighter on the Premier Boxing Champions roster and is ranked No.6 by the WBA.

What is not guaranteed is that Tszyu would fight for the unified championship immediately.

Boxing politics suggests that the winner of the potential Castano-Charlo rematch would have to give up one or two belts, or be stripped, because all four sanctioning bodies would be lobbying to have their No.1 fighter take on the champion.

A relaxed Tszyu caught up with Inoue on Thursday morning after their 12-round clash, and the pair were full of praise and respect toward each other.