Tim Tszyu’s plans for Erickson Lubin, calls out Jermell Charlo

Tim Tszyu is already eyeing up new dates and a new opponent after his planned Las Vegas fight in March fell through, while a project closer to home keeps him busy.

Tim Tszyu is eager to get back in the ring. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Tim Tszyu is still hopeful of fighting in America in late March, but won’t rule out another bout in Australia, while calling long-time rival Jermell Charlo “finished”.

The WBO super welterweight world champion had been working towards a fight in Las Vegas to coincide with the NRL’s season launch there in early March, but broadcast issues and fighter availability ruined those plans.

“We’re still heading towards (fighting in Vegas), we’re just in the waiting game,” Tszyu told this masthead. “Sometime in March would be ideal, but the longer it gets, the more we have to take it into our hands and make the fight happen here.

“I’m not the type to wait around for opportunities.”

Tszyu most recently fought in October, and he’s hungry to step back into the ring. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Tszyu confirmed that former world title challenger Erickson Lubin is the frontrunner to be his next opponent, and cast further doubts over Charlo’s willingness to step back in the ring.

“He (Lubin) is the next name on the list, and he’s number two on Boxrec, so if it makes sense, it makes sense,” Tszyu said. “Charlo, he doesn’t fight. He doesn’t answer the phone.

“Charlo’s finished, I reckon he’s done. I was pursuing that fight, but from my understanding, I don’t see much hunger for him to fight.”

With Charlo seemingly out of the picture for now, Tszyu has turned his sights to undefeated knockout artist Vergil Ortiz.

A star at welterweight, Ortiz has moved up to super-welterweight and boldly called out Tszyu last weekend.

Power puncher Vergil Ortiz called out Tszyu last weekend. Picture: Cris Esqueda/Golden Boy/Getty Images

Tszyu says the fact that Ortiz is chasing him proves the Soul Taker is now the king of the super-welterweight division.

“There is only one man – me,” Tszyu said. “I’m number one and he (Ortiz) knows that.

“The respect from Vergil is there and it’s mutual. I’m willing to fight him anywhere – Australia, America – wherever the fans want it.”

Although Tszyu’s Vegas quest has been delayed, the world champion – along with his brother Nikita and former opponent Joel Camilleri – have kept themselves busy with a plan to cement their legacy well past the end of their fighting careers.

Nikita, Tim and Joel Camilleri are planning on training and developing the next generation of Aussie boxers. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

For the first time ever, the trio has opened the doors to the Tszyu Fight Club in Rockdale – where Kostya also used to train – to the public in an effort to produce the next crop of Australian boxers.

“For me it’s all about giving back,” Tszyu said. “Me and Nikita came up with this idea because for us this is our home, we have been here for 25 years and we care for it.

“There is a bigger picture to coming in here, anyone can go and do a session at any other gym, but to have the feeling and the atmosphere coming into a gym that has been here for 25 years, that’s what I want people to experience.”

Tszyu will still train at the same gym his dad did, while Camilleri is the new manager and head coach. Picture: Justin Lloyd

Camilleri says he knew Tszyu was world champion material as soon as they fought. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Tszyu has structured the new academy to replicate his own training as he fought towards becoming a world champion.

“The disciplines of what we were taught by (trainer and uncle) Igor, along with the training and everything that made us so successful is what we want to bring to the program,” Tszyu said.

“When Igor used to train us we were the best gym, we had a group of amateurs at the very top and that’s where we want to be back at, being that head gym in Australia.”

Tim, Nikita and the wily veteran Camilleri all have a specific role to play.

Camilleri will be taking the reins as head coach and manager, with the Tszyu brothers sculpting the program and co-ordinating the entire coaching regime.

Camilleri was actually Tszyu’s opponent in the Soul Taker’s pay-per-view headline debut, but the pair remained close, even getting pancakes after the bout.

Tim says refurbishing the gym is a way to take ownership of the space their dad, Kostya, spent so many years training in. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

Nikita hard at work building a new set of stairs for the gym. Picture: Brendan Bradford

Younger brother Nikita has also taken on a new nickname: ‘Bob the Builder’ after building any new additions to the gym himself.

On Friday, with the grand opening rapidly approaching, Nikita was on the tools building a new set of stairs leading to the gym’s full sized ring.

“I just like building s***,” he said. “My favourite store is Japanese tools Australia.

“I’m not very business minded, to be perfectly honest. I was just more excited to do renovations around here – it needed a little makeover.

“I was sick of how messy everything was, and it allowed me to focus on making this place a home.”

The new academy opened on Saturday where the three business partners gave classes to a packed house and officially kicked off the next stage of their careers.

Originally published as Tim Tszyu’s plans for Erickson Lubin, calls out Jermell Charlo