Tim Tszyu says the only thing left on his list of boxing goals is to win a world title – but it won’t be in Australia.
After watching his brother Nikita win last night, Tim will fly out to America today where he’ll be ringside for this weekend’s rematch between Jermell Charlo and Brian Castano, after the pair’s first title unification fight ended in a draw.
Tszyu is the contender-in-waiting for whomever wins, after defeating Terrell Gausha in Minnesota on March 27 via unanimous decision.
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The 27-year-old is hoping for the fight to take place in September, as he recovers from corrective surgery on his hands. He said recovery is going well, but that it will be two to three months before he’s making full contact with punches again.
There had been plenty of speculation about a massive stadium bout in Australia, like we’ll see with George Kambosos next month, but Tszyu is instead eyeing the bright lights of Las Vegas.
“It’ll probably be somewhere in America, I want to fight over there,” he told Wide World of Sports.
“That’s where I want to be now. I’m done in Australia.”
Tszyu’s popularity is through the roof down under – even during his brief chat with Wide World of Sports, a passing cyclist stopped to get a photo – and he doesn’t say these things to denigrate his homeland.
But the ultimate prize is world titles. Global recognition. The biggest fights. And he knows that can only happen over there.
“After Jeff Horn (in mid-2020), I wanted to go there straight away, but COVID-19 was happening. Now all of these restrictions are done, we can go fight there, and that’s my next goal – I need to conquer America.”
Awaiting him will be either Charlo or Castano, with the Aussie hoping the former gets it done.
“I prefer Charlo,” Tszyu said.
“It’d make a bigger fight – that’s it.”
Charlo takes a 34-1-1 record and favouritism with the bookies into the weekend, while Castano remains an undefeated 17-0-2.
“It’s going to be a competitive fight, they’re fighting for all the belts – Castano will bring the pressure and Charlo will be countering him,” Tszyu said.