Tim Tszyu plans to wipe out PBC roster of Tony Harrison, Brian Castano and Jermell Charlo
Named as mandatory challenger for the WBO belt, Tim Tszyu reveals he will stop at nothing to dominate the super-welterweights, even if it means there’s no belt at stake.
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A fearless Tim Tszyu has declared he will wipe out the Premier Boxing Champions roster of Brian Castano, Jermell Charlo and Tony Harrison after being mandated as the No. 1 contender for the world title.
PBC, run by Al Haymon – one of the most powerful figures in world boxing and the man who guided Floyd Mayweather Jr through his record-breaking career – has three of Tszyu’s main rivals on its books.
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“I’m coming for them, the whole PBC roster; Harrison, Castano, Charlo, all the American fighters, I want the whole roster,” Tszyu said.
After strong lobbying by Tszyu’s promoters No Limit and manager Glen Jennings, the WBO on Saturday mandated Tszyu as No. 1 contender for the champion, Castano.
That means Tsyzu has first rights to fight for the WBO super-welterweight belt next.
But in a stunning move, the 26-year-old Sydneysider has declared he will risk that by going forward with his plan to fight former world champion Tony Harrison in November and putting at risk his mandatory position.
“One by one, world title or not, I will fight them all,” said Tszyu (19-0, 15KO).
“I will fight Tony Harrison for no world title. Jermell Charlo fought Harrison for the unified world title, I will fight him for nothing, just to take him out.
“I’ll pack my bags now and go fight him in America if I have to, I’m not scared to travel.”
Castano and WBC, WBA and IBF champion Charlo fought to a draw in their unification bout on July 17.
It was a controversial result as most had Castano winning the fight on points, and both fighters are keen on an immediate rematch.
However, the IBF threw a spanner in the works by ordering Charlo to defend that belt against mandatory challenger Bakhram Murtazaliev before the unification rematch.
Of course, if Charlo can’t bring all three of his belts to the Castano rematch, it cannot be for the undisputed, unified championship.
However, if Charlo can avoid Murtazaliev and have the rematch with Castano next, Tszyu’s first world title shot could be for all four major belts – a feat rarely achieved in boxing.
“It’s crazy to think about, pretty insane,” Tszyu said.
“Castano is having a holiday, he and Charlo want to fight once or twice a year. But as soon as I finish a fight, I’m bugging Glen and (No Limit boss) Matt Rose for the next fight.
“There has been a lot of work done behind the scenes by Glen and No Limit to get this world title shot, it wouldn’t have been possible without them.”
Castano said recently Tszyu needed more fights before facing him, but now has no choice but to take on the Australian should he remain WBO champion.
Jennings admitted that taking an optional fight before the world title shot is a risk.
“People will call us crazy but Tim is not going to sit around and wait, that’s just who we are, we want three or four fights a year,” Jennings said.
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Originally published as Tim Tszyu plans to wipe out PBC roster of Tony Harrison, Brian Castano and Jermell Charlo