Jermell Charlo vs Tim Tszyu Undisputed Bout Postponed
It looks like fans will have to wait a bit longer to see the upcoming fight between undisputed junior middleweight champion Jermell Charlo (35-1-1, 19 KOs) and WBO mandatory challenger Tim Tszyu (21-0, 15 KOs). Given the announcement from PBC that the champ has suffered a broken left hand, the fight is officially postponed.
HOW THE CHAMPION WAS HURT HIMSELF?
The last time Charlo was in the ring, he scored a tenth-round stoppage in a rematch with then-WBO champion Brian Castano in May 2022. In a statement released to the boxing media, Charlo gave the details behind what caused the injury.
“I was sparring, and I threw this nice punch, and as soon as it landed, I knew something was wrong. I felt my hand throbbing right away. I had two X-rays and an MRI to see what was wrong. It showed it was broken in two places.
I hate this feeling. My hand will be in a cast for two months. I’m as disappointed as the fans, maybe more, because this was my first chance to defend the undisputed title. The way I am, I would have beaten Tim Tszyu with one hand, but the doctors and the boxing commission won’t allow that. It’s even more dangerous when a lion faces adversity and has to come back to defend the pride.
I’ve been training since July, and I’ve been hitting harder than ever, and these are the things that happen when you push yourself to the limits. After my hand heals, I’m coming back stronger than ever to defend my legacy.”
Jermell Charlo, undisputed junior middleweight champion
WHAT HAPPENS NOW?
A broken bone for any fighter is a bad enough ordeal. But to have suffered two broken bones in the same hand means that Charlo will be out for a significant period of time. It has to be crushing news for Tszyu. A mandatory challenger since August 2021, the 28-year-old from Sydney, Australia released the following statement.
“I’m very disappointed. I felt like the stars aligned for undisputed, but we move on. I’m ready to take on the next mandatory challenger. I’ll be back for Charlo once he is ready and healed.”
Tim Tszyu
How Team Tszyu deals with this postponement will be something to keep an eye on. They had moved their base of operations from Australia to Las Vegas, Nevada. Will they decide to take a break from training until the champ recovers? Will they take a fight in the interim?
There has been no word from the Charlo camp or PBC when the fight will be rescheduled. Stay tuned to 3Kings Boxing for any further developments.
By: Michael Wilson Jr.
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