Tim Tszyu dealt massive blow as Jermell Charlo opts to fight Canelo Alvarez

The boxing world has been stunned by a shock announcement that has left Aussie Tim Tszyu’s world title hopes in tatters.

18-06-2023 - Tim Tszyu defeats Carlos Ocampo with a first round knockout in his first world title defence on the Gold Coast on Sunday. Picture: No Limit Boxing

In a massive blow to Australian boxing superstar Tim Tszyu, his long-awaited world title unification fight with undisputed champ Jermell Charlo has been ruled out.

Super welterweight champion Charlo (35-1-1) will instead move up in weight to fight super middleweight undisputed champion Canelo Alvarez (59-2-2, 39 KOs).

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32-year-old Alvarez had appeared set to fight 33-year-old Charlo’s twin Jermall (the WBC middleweight champ) before this last-minute swap.

The fight is set for September 30 in Las Vegas.

Alvarez, who has won multiple world championships across four weight classes, defended his super middleweight titles with a decision win over John Ryder in Mexico in May.

Charlo has not fought since May 2022, when he knocked out Brian Castano in a world title rematch to claim all the belts at 154 pounds.

Tim Tszyu beat Carlos Ocampo with a first round knockout in his first world title defence. Picture: No Limit Boxing

23-0 (17KOs) Tszyu is the mandatory challenger to Jermell Charlo and had been slated to fight him earlier this year before the fight was postponed due to a serious hand issue for Charlo.

Tszyu has remained active this year with two wins in impressive fashion, most recently a first-round demolition of Mexican Carlos Ocampo, and holds the WBO interim light-middleweight title.

“There’s no doubt I’m going to America, that’s the land I want to conquer,” Tszyu said after that impressive win.

“I’m not satisfied with his interim belt – I want all four and I want the name Charlo on my resume. Let’s dance in October.”

But that anticipated October bout has now been scrapped, forcing Tszyu to wait for his chance to unify the division.

UNDISPUTED vs UNDISPUTED

🗓️ Sept. 30
📍Las Vegas pic.twitter.com/pAlSN5VszU

— Canelo Alvarez (@Canelo) June 30, 2023

Tszyu reacted to the shocking announcement by claiming Charlo was ‘ducking’ his mandatory world title fight with the Australian.

He wrote on Instagram: “Canelo ducks Benavidez. Charlo ducks Tszyu #Boxing.”

The boxing world blew up over the move, with MMA podcast host Lewis Glover saying: “Bro ducked Tim Tszyu so hard he decided to get flogged by Canelo instead. Charlo brothers stay bums.”

Another Twitter fan said: Unless some wires have gotten hopelessly entangled, you’ve gotta feel for Tim Tszyu - getting shafted by Charlo for the 3rd time.

“Starting to smell suspiciously like Charlo was never, ever going to entertain Tszyu, & PBC were just marking time until they could land The Red Tuna,” they said.

– with foxsports.com.au