Tim Tszyu is ‘Happier’ to Fight Keith Thurman

The stage is set as the WBO light-middleweight title holder, Tim Tszyu (24-0, 17 KOs), gears up to test his mettle against American boxing phenom Keith Thurman (30-1-1, 22 KOs). Tszyu was initially in talks with ‘Hammer’ Erickson Lubin (26-2, 18 KOs) for a potential showdown. However, the fight failed to materialize after Lubin pulled out of the negotiations. In a recent interview, Tszyu opened up about Lubin “getting cold feet” and about his preparations ahead of the Thurman fight.

Tszyu was in an interview with Fox Sports Australia. In conversation, he wondered if his training had changed due to his new opponent’s fighting style. Notably, Lubin is a Southpaw, a style that is significantly different from that of Thurman’s.

“Yeah, just typical, you know. Like, typical, they start getting cold feet. So, what do I do?” he said while talking about Lubin backing out. “I’ve been prepping for a southpaw for seven weeks now. I’ve been going pretty hard. What do you do? The show goes on.”

While annoyed by the change in fight preparations, he made it a point to reveal that he was excited to face his new opponent. Tszyu further mentioned, “I’m even more happier now that it’s Keith Thurman. Bigger name, caliber of fight, bigger.”

Tszyu vs Thurman is set to take place at the T-Mobile Arena on March 30, 2024. The showdown will headline PBC’s first pay-per-view as part of its new deal with Amazon’s Prime Video.

Tim Tszyu has also given up on Jermell Charlo

The Australian has been long eyeing a fight against the younger of the Charlo twins, Jermell Charlo (35-2-1, 19 KOs). However, it now seems he has lost all interest in pursuing the potential matchup.

“I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m never going to fight him because he’s a bit of a coward, and finally, all the sanctioning bodies are realizing that he’s a fraud,” Tszyu said during the same interview at the Sydney International Airport. “He just stopped fighting, and it’s unfair for the rest of the division. It’s held us all up for two, three years.”

He also mentioned that Charlo could continue his “little holiday” as he was not on anyone’s radar.

Joshua Ben Joseph

Joshua Ben Joseph is a Boxing writer renowned for his unparalleled coverage of live events and insightful interviews with prominent athletes in the world of combat sports. With a career spanning over several years, he has authored more than 800 articles. As an experienced editorial cartoonist and investigative journalist, Joshua has a keen eye for detail and a passion for delivering quality content. Aside from his writing, Joshua is an avid powerlifter and solo traveler, embodying the same spirit of determination and exploration that he brings to his work. With a deep love for the sport of boxing that dates back to childhood, he is committed to delivering the highest quality content and helping to build a more transparent and credible industry.

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