One condition behind Tszyu's Aussie superfight

1 year ago 76

Tim Tszyu faces Tony Harrison for the interim WBO ace welterweight title connected March 12 successful Sydney but a clash with arch-rival Michael Zerafa gains steam down the scenes.

As Tszyu prepares for the toughest trial of his career against the American, Zerafa has received authoritative connection regarding his ain satellite rubric aspirations, with the IBF confirming the Victorian volition combat Brazilian Esquiva Falcao for the middleweight loop made vacant by combat large Gennady Golovkin.

Golovkin's determination to relinquish his IBF strap leaves Falcao and Zerafa, ranked 1 and 2 respectively, to combat for the vacated title.

In addition, Zerafa is the No.1 contender for Golovkin's WBA crown, and has besides been mentioned arsenic a imaginable hostile for WBO champion Janibek Alimkhanuly.

After Zerafa pulled retired of his bout with Tszyu successful 2021 amid a backdrop of COVID-19 and interior issues with his squad that weren't made nationalist astatine the time, Tszyu declared helium would ne'er combat Zerafa, with the Victorian besides fundamentally blacklisted by boxing broadcaster Fox Sports.

But plentifulness has changed much than 18 months later, with Zerafa present with the No Limit unchangeable and with plentifulness of offers connected the table, giving Tszyu thing to deliberation about.

It's understood Tszyu has warmed to the thought of taking connected Zerafa, connected 1 information - it has to beryllium for a satellite rubric and aft helium becomes an undisputed satellite champion.

If Zerafa and Tszyu are palmy successful their propulsion to assertion titles this year, Tszyu confirmed to Wide World of Sports that helium would determination up successful value to 160lbs by the extremity of the twelvemonth to acceptable up the biggest combat successful Australia successful caller memory, easy surpassing Anthony Mundine vs Danny Green.

"Once I'm done with 154 (pounds) and if there's an accidental to combat for a 160 rubric I'd beryllium each in," Tszyu told WWOS.

"I'm not funny successful Zerafa, I'm funny successful satellite titles.

"I'm going for worldwide designation close present and Zerafa is conscionable nationalist recognition, nary 1 knows him successful America that's the crushed wherefore I'm warring guys similar Tony Harrison who person beaten guys similar (Jermell) Charlo."

It's understood No Limit has had preliminary talks astir their readying for the year, with Zerafa's bout against Falcao to instrumentality spot successful 90 days. It's wholly imaginable Zerafa becomes champion earlier Tszyu, owed to the interim rubric connected the enactment against Harrison.

Either way, Tszyu said helium lone has his eyes connected Harrison astatine the infinitesimal but he's each for taking connected Zerafa for a loop successful different value division, declaring it volition beryllium "easy".

"When I'm successful America they're not asking maine astir Zefara, Zerafa immoderate his sanction is. They're asking maine astir the large boys successful the part - nary 1 knows the bloke.

"Only a fewer radical successful Australia cognize the bloke. If helium hasn't got a satellite rubric past he's virtually got thing to offer. I've got nary involvement isolated from the strap. It would beryllium the easiest satellite rubric to win."

For a regular dose of the champion of the breaking quality and exclusive contented from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!