Tim Tszyu, the undefeated boxing sensation, has made his ambitions clear: he’s keenly eyeing the winner of the imminent Canelo Alvarez vs. Jermell Charlo bout. But first, Tszyu needs to navigate past his own challenge, as he’s set to face Brian Mendoza on October 15th. With Jermell Charlo poised to relinquish his WBO 154-lb title when he steps into the ring against Canelo on September 30th, Tszyu stands to inherit it. However, the young boxer has made it clear that he’d much prefer to win such an accolade in direct combat, ideally against Charlo himself.
However, the path to a marquee matchup against the Canelo-Charlo victor is fraught with potential roadblocks. The boxing grapevine suggests that the winner of the Canelo-Charlo bout might be entangled in a series of rematches or other high-stake battles, potentially sidelining Tszyu's aspirations. To add to this, Tszyu’s been vocal about his interest in other big-name fights, particularly against Terence Crawford, who's currently on the prowl for a worthy adversary.
For Tszyu to make a compelling case for himself against top-tier names like Canelo, he’ll likely need a few more significant wins under his belt. Conquering opponents such as Crawford, David Benavidez, or Dmitry Bivol could solidify his claim. Simply put, a triumph over Mendoza might not suffice to launch Tszyu into a headline bout. As the boxing world watches, Tszyu’s recent remarks echo his determination: “Let your idols become your rivals.” Only time will reveal if he’s ready to ascend to the pinnacle of the boxing world.
Image Credit: DAZN