There is certainly continued tension between junior middleweights Jermell Charlo and Tim Tszyu.
Charlo, the undisputed world champion at 154-pounds, is moving up by two full weight classes to challenge Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez for the undisputed championship at 168. The fight will headline a Showtime Pay-Per-View card from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Since last year, Tszyu has been the mandatory challenger to Charlo’s WBO title.
The sanctioning body has already ruled that Tszyu – who holds the interim belt – will be elevated to the status of full champion once Charlo steps in the ring to face Canelo.
Tszyu is currently scheduled to make the first defense of that title on October 14 in Australia, when he faces WBC interim-beltholder Brian Mendoza.
Regardless of the WBO’s ruling, Charlo will not consider Tszyu a legitimate world champion.
“Right now Tim Tszyu is considered a paper champion,” Charlo said to Ben Damon of Main Event. “If he gets the WBO (belt) and they elevate him, he’s a paper champion. A champion that didn’t have to do anything. A spar champion.
“I had to knock everybody out for my belts. So if Tszyu is watching, hey, don’t be too high up on your horse because you didn’t do nothing in boxing. Of course I’m going to take a bigger opportunity like Canelo over Tim Ta-Zoo. Who is Tim Ta-Zoo? Australia knows, but not the world of boxing.
“He’s not a legitimate champion. He fought (Carlos) Ocampo. Who is Ocampo? He didn’t fight dog tough, hard, hard fights. So keep on going. Maybe he’ll get opportunity. But I’m the man. I’m the one who did it in boxing. Tim Ta-Zoo didn’t do nothing in boxing. Tell him to stay humble, keep quiet and time will tell.”