Paco Valcarcel Implies Tim Tszyu vs Keith Thurman is a Title Fight
Is the WBO thinking of making WBO junior middleweight champion Tim “The Soul Taker” Tszyu’s (24-0, 17KO) upcoming fight against Keith “One Time” Thurman (30-1, 22KO) a title fight?
Initial reports to the boxing public were that Tszyu versus One Time was at a catchweight of 155 pounds, and the title wasn’t on the line. The organization’s unwillingness to sanction the fight was due to Thurman not being ranked.
IS A CHANGE ON THE HORIZON?
WBO president Francisco “Paco” Valcarcel’s recent comment while speaking to FightHype is somewhat puzzling.
“On paper, you have to pick Tszyu on paper. But, in boxing, anything can happen. . .but the winner of that fight will have a tough cookie as the next mandatory.”
Francisco “Paco” Valcarcel
Who is this opponent he was talking about? It’s none other than the unified welterweight champion Terence “Bud” Crawford. It seems the two have been conversing on Bud fighting the winner for the WBO title. But, why would he need to wait to fight the winner if the title isn’t on the line? Hence, why the question of the fight being changed to a title defense is burning inside this author’s brain.
The WBO president could have misspoken, which is a plausible argument. Yet, one would expect him to know the rules and stipulations regarding the title. Or, have they adjusted their stance to add more intrigue to the upcoming fight between the two fighters?
Let’s remember that this is the same WBO that placed then-unified middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin in the super middleweight rankings. That move was helpful in making the trilogy fight with undisputed champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez count as a title defense.
As Paco said, this is boxing – anything can happen, and oftentimes, it’s more than we know.
