Jermell Charlo has a deadline imposed by the WBO as to when to fight Tim Tszyu. That date is September 30th.
Charlo, who was injured in December of last year has been inactive for all of 2023 so far. Charlo is not a fan of the backlash as the undisputed junior welterweight world champion, who holds the IBF, WBA, WBO, and WBC world titles recently sounded off.
“Hey, when they release me, I’m knockin’ that [expletive] out from Australia,” Charlo said to BoxingScene.com. “He [got to] get confirmation from all the [expletive] that you fought somebody because, you know, like I’ve done my due diligence in the world of boxing."
Charlo's frustrations are not unfounded. He has fought the best of the best of the junior middleweight division - become a pound-for-pound fighter yet, at times, people point to everything he is not to define him as what he is. Most recently it is the glaring issue of activity as he has only fought once in over a calendar year with no scheduled return date against a surging Tim Tszyu, who is having a career year in 2023.
“At 154, I’m the king," continued Charlo."You got this staircase over here. You know, keep feeling yourself. We’ll get there. When I do fight you, [Tim Tszyu], it’s over. I don’t play...”
Tszyu has not been shy at taking shots at Charlo as he said the following to Fox Sports after Gervonta Davis knocked out Ryan Garcia.
“I was watching the Garcia/Tank fight the other day and the guy was off his head - Drunk," said Tszyu to Fox Sports. "There’s a difference between me and him. You see me, I’m active. I’m staying ready for the next opportunity. And every opportunity I get, I’m going to take it. Him on the other hand, he’s on a honeymoon, off to Las Vegas, getting smashed."
Tszyu returns on June 17th, live on Showtime Sports, as he looks to defend his WBO junior middleweight interim title against Carlos Ocampo, at the Gold Coast Convention Centre, in Broadbeach, Australia. This will be Tszyu's first defense of his interim world title.
