Tim Tszyu vs. Tony Harrison | Showtime - March 11, 2023

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Tim Tszyu to face Tony Harrison for interim title on March 12

Tim Tszyu will fight Tony Harrison for the WBO junior middleweight interim title on March 12 in Australia, it was announced on Sunday.

The site and city were not disclosed, but the fight will take place on Sunday afternoon in Australia and be televised in prime time in the United States on Saturday night.

Tszyu, an Australian star and son of Hall of Fame boxer Kostya Tszyu, was set to challenge Jermell Charlo for the undisputed championship at 154 pounds on Saturday before the American withdrew with a broken left hand.

Now, Tszyu (21-0, 15 KOs) will take on his toughest test yet, and if he emerges victorious, will face Charlo later this year for all four junior middleweight titles once he is medically cleared. If Charlo isn't able to defend his WBO title in the time period set forth by the Puerto Rico-based organization, he will be stripped, and the interim champion will be elevated.

Tszyu, 28, made his U.S. debut in March with a unanimous-decision victory over Terrell Gausha. Tszyu, ESPN's No. 4 junior middleweight, was then ringside in May for Charlo's KO victory over Brian Castano ahead of their planned Jan. 28 fight in Las Vegas.

"I felt like the stars aligned for undisputed ... but we move on," Tszyu said last month after the matchup with Charlo was postponed. "I'm ready to take on the next mandatory challenger. I'll be back for Charlo once he is ready and healed."

Harrison (29-3-1, 21 KOs) rebounded in April with a wide-points victory over Sergio Garcia, his first win since December 2018 when he upset Charlo via controversial unanimous decision.

The 32-year-old from Detroit is a crafty boxer but has been stopped in each of his losses, including a 11th-round KO in the December 2019 title rematch with Charlo. Harrison was surprisingly held to a draw against fringe contender Bryant Perrella in April 2021 and is currently rated No. 1 at 154 pounds, one spot behind Tszyu.

If Harrison can pull off the upset, he'll earn a third crack at Charlo.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Glad Tim has this fight.

Can become world champion.

Let’s see it Jermell fights the winner or just vacates.

Harrison put his name in the hat as soon as Charlo said he was injured.

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Gonna be catered to the US fans.

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Harrison was supposed to have a WBC mandatory shot vs. Fundora. He’s risking that by now challenging for the WBO belt.

Either way, winner of this will either become full champion or eventually fight for the full champion.

Per WBO rules, Jermell will have 180 days to face the winner of this fight.

IBF might attempt to enforce its own, long overdue mandatory title fight at some point.

[KiwiRider]

This is a nice step up fight for Tim.
I think Harrison has enough left to give Tim a tough challenge, tough enough to prepare him for a title shot if he succeeds.

[SendoTakeshi]

Props to Tim. Risking his mandatory spot for a fight he could very well lose. He doesn't seem to be afraid to lose his 0. Fair play.

I do believe Harrison is too skilled for him though.
I kinda wanna see how Tim and Mell plays out, but wouldn't mind Mell vs Harrison 3.

[gilgamesh]

What happened to the Jermell fight?

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What happened to the Jermell fight?

Jermell is injured

[margaret thatcher]

solid fight, if tim gets through it he could be better prepared for charlo

[gregregegg]

Seems a crazy risk for probably about 1/10th the money and no real belts. Fair play to timmy boy.

Good to see he got it to Australia at least.

[DrDuke]

Not that big risk, Tszyu will win handily. Anyway, credit to him for not rusting.

[KiwiRider]

Not that big risk, Tszyu will win handily. Anyway, credit to him for not rusting.

Really?
I know Tony has miles on the clock, but he is vastly more experienced and in my opinion, a better boxer.
While I do expect Tszyu to win, I don't think it will be exactly easy..
Great learning fight though, excellent preparation for a title shot.

[gilgamesh]

Not that big risk, Tszyu will win handily. Anyway, credit to him for not rusting.

Really?
I know Tony has miles on the clock, but he is vastly more experienced and in my opinion, a better boxer.
While I do expect Tszyu to win, I don't think it will be exactly easy..
Great learning fight though, excellent preparation for a title shot.

I think Harrison is about as good as can get as preparation for Charlo. The style is fairly similar really.

[DrDuke]

Not that big risk, Tszyu will win handily. Anyway, credit to him for not rusting.

Really?
I know Tony has miles on the clock, but he is vastly more experienced and in my opinion, a better boxer.
While I do expect Tszyu to win, I don't think it will be exactly easy..
Great learning fight though, excellent preparation for a title shot.

I don't rate Tony highly. He was awarded a win over Charlo clearly. Ironically, he was really leading in the rematch, but eventually got stopped. The division isn't overall that strong, I'd say. Apart from Charlo and Castano, I can't name big threats.

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Tim Tszyu's Promoter: "Tony Harrison is Very Dangerous, It's a Massive Risk"

No Limit Boxing CEO George Rose said, “Mark your calendars everyone because Tim Tszyu finally gets his shot at becoming world champion on Sunday March 12, right here in Australia.”

“I visited him in the US for his training camp, so trust me when I tell you he’s ready to take over the world by any means necessary. He’s in the best shape of his life, fighting back home for the first time since 2021 and hungrier than ever. It’s going to be one hell of a show.”

“Tim also knows this won’t be a walk in the park. He has a very, very dangerous man in Tony Harrison in front of him. Harrison is the only man in the world to take down the undisputed champ in Jermell Charlo, so it’s a massive risk for him.”

“It’s hard to believe that it’s been two-decades since fight fans last witnessed a Tszyu world title on Australian shores, but we don’t have to wait much longer. We’ll look to announce which city and venue is set to host this blockbuster event very soon.”

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Press Release

Tim Tszyu will fight for the WBO super-welterweight world title in Australia on Sunday, March 12, leading Australian-based boxing promoter No Limit Boxing confirmed.

Tszyu, 28, will attempt to win his maiden world title on home soil in his first fight back in his native Australia since defeating Japan’s Takeshi Inoue in November 2021.

‘The Soul Taker’ continued his training camp in the USA in preparation for a title fight following the postponement of one of the biggest and most anticipated fights on the 2023 boxing schedule, Charlo vs. Tszyu for the undisputed championship of the world.

American Tony Harrison is the former WBC super welterweight world champion. He is also the only fighter to have defeated Tszyu’s previously-planned opponent in current undisputed champion Jermell Charlo.

Ranked No.2 by the WBC and No. 3 by the WBO, Harrison has a record of 29 wins, three losses and draw with 21 of those victories via knock out. His last fight was against Spain’s Sergio Garcia in April 2022, winning by unanimous decision.

The 32-year-old from Detroit has always embraced the idea of facing off against Tszyu in Australia, telling reporters last year, “I want to go to Australia. Take me on a vacation. Let me travel across the world and fight somebody that ya’ll want me to fight, I’m cool with that…”

“Let me see the kangaroos and rattlesnakes and s–t like that, I want that. I want to fight him, but I want to fight him over there.”

In a winner takes all scenario, the victor on March 12 is set to secure an undisputed title fight against Charlo, once the champion recovers from his injuries.

Tim Tszyu said, “I think Australia is going to erupt. I haven’t fought for almost a year and half in back home and I know it’s going to be the biggest show yet. It’s a massive fight for Australia and a special moment in my career. I have so many passionate fans supporting and following me, so I guess he will feel a certain craziness about the atmosphere in Australia. But his biggest problem he’s running into isn’t the fans, it’s me.”

“Every fight you take is all on the line, you’re one punch away from going back to the very bottom. It’s all on the line and a gamble, but this is what I do. This is boxing, it’s part of my career and I’m a fighter first.”

“He (Harrison) was the next best available option. I’m at that stage of my career that I really don’t care who is in front of me. I’m ready to take them all out.”

No Limit Boxing CEO George Rose said, “Mark your calendars everyone because Tim Tszyu finally gets his shot at becoming world champion on Sunday March 12, right here in Australia.”

“I visited him in the US for his training camp, so trust me when I tell you he’s ready to take over the world by any means necessary. He’s in the best shape of his life, fighting back home for the first time since 2021 and hungrier than ever. It’s going to be one hell of a show.”

“Tim also knows this won’t be a walk in the park. He has a very, very dangerous man in Tony Harrison in front of him. Harrison is the only man in the world to take down the undisputed champ in Jermell Charlo, so it’s a massive risk for him.”

“It’s hard to believe that it’s been two-decades since fight fans last witnessed a Tszyu world title on Australian shores, but we don’t have to wait much longer. We’ll look to announce which city and venue is set to host this blockbuster event very soon.”

Venue and ticketing details will be announced in the coming weeks.

[ninetypercent]

Seems a crazy risk for probably about 1/10th the money and no real belts. Fair play to timmy boy.

Good to see he got it to Australia at least.

1/10 the money hey. I bet he gets more money for this fight in a packed-out major venue in Australia than he would have got fighting Charlo in the States. He will be the A side of the fight and get the lions share of the purse rather than very much the B side with Charlo.

[gregregegg]

Seems a crazy risk for probably about 1/10th the money and no real belts. Fair play to timmy boy.

Good to see he got it to Australia at least.

1/10 the money hey. I bet he gets more money for this fight in a packed-out major venue in Australia than he would have got fighting Charlo in the States. He will be the A side of the fight and get the lions share of the purse rather than very much the B side with Charlo.

Ok 1/10th is a bit extream, but a biggg pay cut.

It’s Sunday arvo in aus, just like it would of been if he was fighting charlo in the USA. They will do a good gate in aus, but won’t do more for a Sunday arvo non world title fight in aus than for a prime time Saturday night undisputed in USA…

Aus ppv would of been wayyy more in an undisputed fight than against tony.

He will get a bigger %, but of a muchhhhh smaller pot.

[KiwiRider]

Seems a crazy risk for probably about 1/10th the money and no real belts. Fair play to timmy boy.

Good to see he got it to Australia at least.

1/10 the money hey. I bet he gets more money for this fight in a packed-out major venue in Australia than he would have got fighting Charlo in the States. He will be the A side of the fight and get the lions share of the purse rather than very much the B side with Charlo.

Ok 1/10th is a bit extream, but a biggg pay cut.

It’s Sunday arvo in aus, just like it would of been if he was fighting charlo in the USA. They will do a good gate in aus, but won’t do more for a Sunday arvo non world title fight in aus than for a prime time Saturday night undisputed in USA…

Aus ppv would of been wayyy more in an undisputed fight than against tony.

He will get a bigger %, but of a muchhhhh smaller pot.

I don't know about the potential money in this instance yet, but Horn for sure made buckets of cash for his home fights.
The name Tszyu as well...

[emallini]

Harrison should win this.

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Tszyu on losing the Charlo fight to end up facing Harrison instead
“I was gutted at first. I brought my whole team down. Everything was going so smoothly and I was in the best shape of my life. I was ready to go. These things happen, I guess. I was just disappointed.

“For me it was more getting a fight. I haven’t fought for a long time so I just need someone to get in there with and I needed someone that’s at that 1% caliber, that top, top level. I’m glad this fight (with Harrison) got made.”

On facing off against an American style of boxing
“(They’re) hard to hit, rangy, quick, good reflexes, good eye, good brains. Tony Harrison has got great tools.”

On if he believes his pressure will be too much for Harrison
“That’s what I hope for. It’s gonna be a different type of style. We’ll see what I bring on the night.

“My defense is very underestimated. People don’t realize. They think I’m there but I’m not there. You can see it differently on the outside to what you see on the inside.”

On Harrison believing he’s too green to win this fight
“He’ll be in shock.”

On what he’s currently weighing at this point before the fight
“Not too sure, but I’m definitely not 165. I’m a big boy. I’m getting bigger and bigger. But I’m eating cleanly, everything’s on track. I’ve hired a personal chef now, my food’s on point, and I don’t have much body fat either. (I’m about) 168.”

On his game plan for Harrison
“My game plan is quite simple: get him into the water and drown him. When he wants air, he won’t be allowed any air, and he’ll sink — make him sink. And that’s quite simple.”

[margaret thatcher]

maybe he'll make back any $$ he may have lost when he picked yarde over bert, actually now that i think of it i' think he has a policy of always picking the black guy , i remember him being all over hopkins schooling kov too, , gausha over timmy, wilder destroying fury,jacobs over ggg, etc