Tim Tszyu, son of legendary boxer Kostya Tszyu, has called out Anthony Mundine to a fight some time in 2018.
Tim Tszyu is the current WBC Asian Boxing Council Continental super welterweight champion and boasts a professional record of 8-0 (6 KO). Tszyu won his WBC Asian title last year in October against Wade Ryan at the Johnny Lewis tournament at the Star City Casino in Sydney.
Tszyu has just come off another victory over Ruben Webster last month and is fighting again on the 25th May at the Star City Casino against Larry Siwu to defend his WBC Asian title. Tszyu is no stranger to big fights or Mundine, actually, it’s with thanks to Mundine we now know who Tim Tszyu is.
Tszyu had his second pro fight on the undercard to Mundine v Green 2 with a TKO victory over Mark Dalby in Adelaide in February 2017. The fight gave him his foot into the mainstream door. Tszyu had also featured on the undercard to Joesph Parker’s defence of his WBO World Heavyweight title in May last year. Now he wants to use his name to call out “The Man”.
In a video released by fight call out. Tszyu said that “You have had your time, Mundine and now it’s mine. Tszyu and Mundine, the two biggest names in Australian boxing history”.
“Why not, let’s make it happen!’.
Mundine who recently fought in January, had an epic return to the ring by knocking out Tommy Browne in less than two rounds, to earn himself the WBO Oriental Middleweight title and a top ten ranking with the WBO, has not responded to the challenge. But besides this would the fight even happen?
I doubt it. What does Tszyu have to offer Mundine? Both men would be put into a no-win situation: if Mundine wins, so what he beats another upcoming no name, if Tszyu wins he beats a well out of his prime old man, what does either have to gain with a victory?
With no world title around his waist, Tszyu would have to come up with a very big payday to lure Mundine into the ring. Realistically, why else would Mundine fight him? Plus Mundine is chasing current WBO World Welterweight champ Jeff Horn to a mega fight.
Pending the results of Horn’s defence against Terence Crawford next month, Mundine is focused on a Horn fight for now.
Tsyzu and Mundine are definitely two of the biggest names in Aussie boxing, possibly with the exception of Fenech, but I doubt the names alone would be enough for people to buy a ticket.
For now, I think that Tszyu should focus on his own career rather than calling out old men way past their primes, why not call out Jeff Horn if he loses next month? I wish him luck in his career, he will certainly be one worth watching.
BigJ
Roar Guru
Don’t most boxers do that, fight blokes they knew they could beat so they could tell everyone how good they are. Floyd Mayweather that for his last ten fights atleast
Kane
Guest
He's had to fight these to get his chance at the top, Mundine just fought the blokes who he knew he'd beat so he could tell everyone how good he was.
BigJ
Roar Guru
You need a little history lesson my friend, Horn has fought his fair share of past their prime fighters. Randall Bailey was 41 when they fought, Ali Funkea and Manny Pacquaio were both 38 when they fought Horn, so not exactly at their best. Crawford is the only real fighter Horn will ever fight and it will test him to no end.
Kane
Guest
Why would Horn lower himself to fight Mundine, I reckon Mundine could offer Horn 10 mill and he'd still knock it back because unlike Mundine in his heyday Horn wants to fight the best and test himself against the best, not fight the pub brawlers to get his wins up like Mundine did. If Horn loses against Crawford he'll earn more respect from the majority Australian public in one fight than Mundine did in a whole career.
WCE
Roar Rookie
I hope Tszyu moves on with fighting Mundine, its a no brainer. Mundine is an old man with a big mouth and not worth the time and effort for Tim, and the same goes with Horn. I hope Horn doesn't take up any offer with Mundine. Horn has a big future against some great up and coming fighters for future gain so forget Mundine , move on and go forward. Mundine's time is over.
BigJ
Roar Guru
It would project his career to unseen heights but I would not put him on the same pedal stool as Tsyzu until he unified the division and defend it at least four times
me too
Guest
If Horn beats Crawford he'll cement himself as easily our best boxer since Kosta. Can't see it happening, but I'll be cheering him on. Be in a whole new ballpark career wise if he can.
BigJ
Roar Guru
Fair evaluation of things to come.
Ben
Roar Guru
Tszyu may have the same last name, but his Father is a different class. Tim is pursuing the Australian circa 2000 way of making a name in Aussie boxing, by using Choc's name. Ultimately, Tim is the cheap imitation of his Father. Back to reality now. Horn losses to Crawford, comes home and beats Choc for a couple of million dollars, then looks to fight for world titles again. Choc losses to Horn, then finally retires because Fanny Green refuses to get a third beating at the hands of "the man". Tszyu continues to fight ok national level fighters, then falls spectacularly short when he fights an elite boxer.
Jason Andrews
Roar Pro
I like the examples that you used for the fights, very similar to if this fight was to happen. Its certainly hard to say whether it will or not but as I said to The Grafter, it depends on the outcome of the HORN v Crawford fight. Im confident that Horn will win and that neither of these fights will occur. thanks for reading
Jason Andrews
Roar Pro
Hi Grafter, thanks for reading. I was aware of the Lomachenko fight but was more focused on UFC 224 as Ill actually be able to see it. In reality both of these fights; Mundine v Horn and/or Mundine v Tszyu has little chance of happening but will see. If Horn losses next month he will most likely go up to 154lbs, with Mayweather and Pacman out of the way, that division is wide open. WBO Super-welterweight champ Sadam Ali is defending his belt soon and if he wins, Horn could get a shot at him via the WBO rules. Im curious, you said that if Tszyu does fight Mundine he'll have to lose it all. At 8-0 what does he have to lose. If lose does lose he'll cop so bad media for a bit and move on to his next fight,
The Grafter
Guest
This is a very dangerous fight for young Tim. Eight fights against 56. Im sure his old man would still have plenty of say in where the boy is headed (Grandad was in the corner in his last fight in Brisbane). IF its a real challenge, to me Tyzyu has it all to lose. My mail is the same as yours, the Horn Mundine possibility is a back up money fight if Crawford does what is expected next month. What is intriguing if that happens, what weight? Its no secret Jeff Horn loses a heap of eight, particularly over the past month of each preparation, however at 30 that will be getting harder. Whilst not being a Dr or having any medical knowledge outside a weekend First Aid course, and stopping the occasional cut, I would hate to think of the long term health issues this may do to his organs over time? In the meantime, we have the No 1 p4p in the world after 10 victories fighting today at Madison Square Garden, the home of boxing on the US's West Coast. The machine Lomachenko is at unbackable odds Jorge Lanares from Venezuela who at 44-3 is by no means a bum. A NZ female boxer, Baby Nansen has made it onto the undercard fighting an unbeaten American in her 10th fight.
BigJ
Roar Guru
Nice article, was not even aware of the challenge being made. I agree with the author, very unlikely that a Mundine v Tsyzu fight would happen, but then again this is boxing ? and stranger things have happened Mundine v Ellis and Fenech v Nelson 3 even Ali v burbick spring to mind. I doubt that choc would take the fight but will wait and see. Actually just thinking of this it’s a win win for Choc. If Horn losses he can fight Horn if Horn wins he has an tsyzu challenge to fall back on. Without knowing it Tsyzu probably has given Mundine more options than he deserves