Boxing 2021: Tim Tszyu reveals what he’ll be studying in Jermell Charlo vs Brian Castano fight

Boxing sensation Tim Tszyu doesn’t watch fights like most fans. Here, he reveals exactly he’ll be studying in the Charlo-Castano bout, and what lies ahead for him.

Pictured in Sydney is professional boxer Tim Tszyu with his girlfriend Alexandra Constantine. Picture: Christian Gilles

While many sports fans will watch Sunday’s unification title fight between Jermell Charlo and Brian Castano watching for knockouts or speed, Tim Tszyu will be looking for something altogether different.

From his couch in locked-down Sydney, Tszyu — in line to fight the winner — will be studying one aspect of the fight closest.

“Habits,” Tszyu said. “Habits they fall in, things they do after a punch, before a punch, how they start, how they finish.

Watch Jermell Charlo vs. Brian Castaño Live & On-Demand on Kayo from 11am Sunday. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >

Australia’s newest boxing sensation Tim Tszyu with his girlfriend Alexandra Constantine. Picture: Christian Gilles

“That’s the little things for myself. Their position in the ring, who takes control of the centre, it’s a big key to controlling the momentum of the fight.

“It’s the little things that win a fight. It’s all about setting up a certain punch and then landing it. You’ve got to be able to set it up perfectly and end it.

“It’s about setting traps and being able to read your opponent.”

Tszyu (19-0, 15KO) is among just a handful of boxers who could fight the unified champion later this year, given he is the No. 1 mandatory contender for Castano’s WBO super-welterweight belt.

Charlo (34-1, 18KO) holds the other three major belts — WBC, WBA and IBF — and is the favourite in this contest against undefeated Castano (17-0-1, 12KO), to be held in San Antonio’s AT & T Center, and broadcast live in Australia on Fox Sports 507 on Sunday from 11am.

WBC, WBA and IBF super-welterweight champion Jermell Charlo (left) faces WBO champion Brian Castano to unify the division.

Tszyu, who is supposed to be on a four-week rest period after his third-round stoppage of Steve Spark 10 days ago – was back in training in his home gymnasium last Monday, five days after the bout.

“I just keep focused, I was back in the gym on Monday doing training. Even though I was so sore, my body was aching, I had to push,” Tszyu said.

Tszyu after dropping Stevie Spark in Newcastle. Picture: Getty Images

“Because the level I’m going to know, these are the big boys. And I have to be on the ball.”

As for the unification bout, Tszyu said: “I’m predicting Charlo, I think he’s just going to outpoint him, out-jab him.

“The fight is going to be quite simple; Charlo is just going to be moving, Castano is going to be coming at him with punches in bunches, every time Castano gets close Charlo with get him with the jab and make it his fight.”

There is a strong theory that should Charlo win, he will relinquish all four belts and move up to middleweight, where his twin brother Jermall Charlo (32-0, 22KO) holds the WBC title, which Tszyu sees happening.

Tszyu celebrates his WBA Oceania WBO Global super welterweight title fight win. Picture: Getty Images

“When you’ve got all the titles, you’re paying a lot of money to all the sanctioning bodies,” Tszyu said.

“There’s no point holding onto all the titles once you’ve got them.

“Once you become the undisputed champion, that’s the exclamation mark that you have achieved all you can in the weight division.”

That would create a wave of new title fights in all sanctioning bodies, but it appears regardless of this weekend’s result, Tszyu’s next bout will be against England’s Liam Smith — a former world champion who battled pound-for-pound king Saul “Canelo” Alvarez before falling in the ninth round in 2016.

“He gave trouble to Canelo,” Tszyu said.

WBC, WBA and IBF super-welterweight champion Jermell Charlo (left) and WBO champion Brian Castano.

“Watching the last few fights of Canelo, he’s just smoked everyone in front of him, and that didn’t happen with Liam Smith.

“Liam Smith put the pressure on and landed big shots. Even though Canelo stopped him he was connecting, he was in a fight.

“If I’m able to fight Liam Smith and put on a show, then it just shows the calibre I’m performing at.”

Smith (29-3-1, 16KO) is No. 5 with the WBO and the winner would certainly get the world title fight next.

For Tszyu, this is a line-in-the-sand moment, after Michael Zerafa withdrew from their July 7 fight and Spark stepped up on short notice.

Tszyu says plans to fight Michael Zerafa after his withdrawal have definitely been binned.

Zerafa and his team believe they will eventually fight Tszyu, but the 26-year-old drew a red line through that idea.

“That part is done, it’s finished,” Tszyu said.

“They’re very delusional, that whole team.

“I’ve finished with the domestic scene, that’s full stop, exclamation mark, done.

“Now I’ve reached the next chapter of my career, this is where the fun actually begins.

“Before it was different. Domestic was great, Newcastle was great, all the opponents were well-ranked, good calibre opponents for here in Australia.

“But this next point in my career is a completely new level, this is what defines great, this is where you have to rise.

“Jeff Horn had it for two fights [against Manny Pacquiao and Terence Crawford], that’s it.

“I think Jeff was satisfied. The difference with me is that I’m never satisfied.”

Originally published as Boxing 2021: Tim Tszyu reveals what he’ll be studying in Jermell Charlo vs Brian Castano fight