Aussie slugger Tim Tszyu offered a rare compliment to the man he hopes to next step into the ring with.
Tszyu was speaking to FightHubTV about Jermell Charlo – the American who now lays claim to all four belts in the super-welterweight division and is the undisputed champion.
Charlo won an epic bout against Brian Castano on Sunday, stopping his opponent in the 10th round to become the first four-belt champion in his division.
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Tszyu is the WBO’s mandatory challenger and says Charlo must accept a fight with him within three months, or vacate the belt.
The pair engaged in a rather fiery back-and-forth in the 24 hours after Charlo’s victory.
The American was incensed at a reporter’s question about Tszyu immediately after the win, and then the Aussie returned serve the following day by saying “he (Charlo) knows exactly who I am”.
But when asked by FightHubTV what he thought of Charlo’s winning performance, Tszyu was complimentary.
“I thought the fight he did that night, the first six rounds, proves that he digs in,” Tszyu said.
“He gained my respect, honestly.
“I always thought he was going to out-box (Castano), try outsmart him, and look for that one shot, as soon as Castano wanted to bang he wouldn’t bang.
“But he did bang. He got my respect.”
If Charlo has earned the respect of Tszyu, it seems it is not yet reciprocated.
The American was asked in his post-fight press conference about the Aussie, and the prospect of fighting him for the four belts.
He fired a stunning verbal attack at the journalist.
“Didn’t he get dropped? That motherf—er’s out. He got dropped,” Charlo said, referring to Tszyu being knocked down in the opening round of his US debut victory over Terrell Gausha.
“It’s different heat over here in America, baby. It’s different heat in America.
“How much Tim Too, whatever his f—in’ name is, how much they got? How much money they got? F— you and Tim Kazoo, change the mic.”
Tszyu, as usual, was not fazed one bit by the verbal barrage.
In his typical style he could only laugh it off.
“Charlo is just an angry person. He never really smiles,” he told FightHubTV.
“I would’ve thought after the fight he would be happy. He’s sitting there all cranky, going off at all different reporters.
“That’s just how he is. He doesn’t like to be told anything.”
Tszyu is in America hoping to get a fight with Charlo organised.
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