Tim Tszyu’s chance at becoming the undisputed super-welterweight champion will come next year, sources have confirmed to Wide World of Sports.
The undefeated Tszyu will take to the ring against American Jermell Charlo on January 29 (AEDT), 2023, with a location yet to be announced as a stacked fight calendar in the latter part of this year forced promoters to act.
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Charlo posted and deleted the fight date on Instagram, with Tszyu expected to front the media tomorrow to confirm the bout.
The preparation for this fight will be unusually long for Tszyu, with the Sydney fighter usually accustomed to fighting every three-four months.
In the lead up to the biggest fight of his life, Tszyu will be out of the ring for 10 months, with his last fight against Terrell Gausha in late March.
Charlo has been fighting once a year for the past couple of years, with his last clash against Brian Castano in May.
Tszyu travelled to the US to watch Charlo defeat Castano in their rematch to become the undisputed super welterweight world champion, while having time off to repair injured knuckles on both hands.
Tszyu underwent minor surgery and is slowly ramping up his training as the swelling subsides.
The time off will be hugely beneficial for Tszyu to recover, although it will be an unfamiliar situation, considering the longest he’s had off between fights is four months, even putting on shows during the pandemic in a bid to remain active.
With several big fights slated for the end of the year including Canelo vs Triple G, Anthony Joshua vs Usyk and a heavily anticipated clash between Errol Spence Jr and Terence Crawford, promoters were left with no option but to look to next year to get prime real estate on the fight calendar to cultivate an audience, away from any other event.
Spence took a shot at Tszyu earlier in the year, laughing off any chance the Australian had at scoring a fight with his friend and training partner Charlo, telling media “Tell Kostya Tszyu to shut the f— up” when posed with a question about a possible match-up.
Speaking to Wide World of Sports, Tszyu said he wasn’t surprised by Spence’s jab and looks forward to proving everybody wrong.
“They’re at the same gym (Charlo, Spence). I think Spence is dirty because Gausha was his team member at the Olympics and he really thought Gausha was going to beat me so let him sook on his own words.
“He has Crawford to deal with. He’s (Crawford) going to bash him anyway. He thinks it’s going to be an easy walk through win but I’m coming 100 percent prepared. Everyone’s going to see what happens.
“I’m going to base myself in America for this fight. Get the full sparring. Use the best facilities in the world and be in the best state I can possibly be in.”
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