American Tony Harrison has put his hand up to fight Tim Tszyu in Australia as the undefeated Sydney contender weighs up his next fight.
After defeating Terrell Gausha in Minnesota on March 27 via unanimous decision, it’s widely expected Tszyu will face the winner of the Brian Castano v Jermell Charlo blockbuster unification bout, which takes place on May 15 (AEST) in Carson, California.
Tszyu isn’t one to sit around and wait for his shot despite being the No.1 contender, putting his status on the line to headline the Showtime event against Gausha.
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He’s remained active and has said in the past he would ideally like to fight every three or four months.
By the time Charlo and Castaño face off in the ring, Tszyu will be nearly two months beyond his fight with Gausha. Considering how long negotiations may take with the crowned winner of that bout, Tszyu could be out of the ring for some time.
The Sydney fighter has never left destiny in the hands of others, and playing the waiting game for his chance at becoming the unified champion may not be ideal preparation for the biggest fight of his life.
So, it would come as no shock if Tszyu opted for another bout against a high calibre opponent before fighting the newly crowned champion.
Fresh off beating Sergio Garcia for the vacant WBC silver light middleweight title on the weekend, Harrison has emerged as a potential opponent for Tszyu as he looks to make his bones on the US scene.
The American had been mentioned as a possible rival last year but a deal never materialised. Gausha was widely regarded as Tszyu’s toughest challenge yet – and likely the last stepping stone in his quest for a world title shot, although Harrison wasn’t convinced by Tszyu’s performance despite calling it a “good showing”.
“The whole way through, consistently, he stayed true to what he’s true to,” he told Fight Hype. “But, it’s so many lapses in that man’s game. Man, I wanted to take that fight in Australia.
“Like it’s so many lapses, so many loopholes in that man’s game — don’t see him getting to the top and being the champ.”
While Tszyu said he wants to continue fighting in the US to build his reputation in the Mecca of boxing, Harrison said he’d be more than happy to travel Down Under.
“I don’t really duck fights. As long as paper right — I would’ve loved to fight him in Australia. If that fight is going to be made for me, take me to Australia,” Harrison said.
“I want to go to Australia. Take me on a vacation. Let me travel across the world and fight somebody that ya’ll want me to fight, I’m cool with that…let me see the kangaroos and rattlesnakes and s–t like that, I want that. I want to fight him, but I want to fight him over there.
“The fight was always appealing to me and I’d love to do it in his hometown.”
Tszyu is expected to personally attend the Charlo vs Castano fight as a guest of Showtime, which may suggest the Aussie could wait for a crack at the world title.
Charlo and Castaño fought to a split draw on July 17 in San Antonio. One judge had it even, another had Charlo by a whopping score of 117-111 and the other had Castano 114-113.
The rematch was postponed from earlier this year when Castano suffered a bicep injury.
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