American superstar Jermell Charlo has been ordered to fight Tim Tszyu before October by WBO officials, a decision No Limit promoter George Rose has described as “massive”.
Five months after breaking his hand while preparing to fight Tszyu in a January unification blockbuster, Charlo is still yet to confirm when he will be ready to defend all four super welterweight belts.
While the pair were initially slated to fight at the start of the year in Las Vegas, the hyped title blockbuster has now been delayed twice by the reigning champ.
As a result, Tszyu is determined to stay busy and will face tough Mexican Carlos Ocampo on the Gold Coast on Sunday, June 18.
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It will be the second time the undefeated Aussie has rolled the dice on his Charlo showdown, having already faced – and finished – American Tony Harrison in March.
That fight won him the interim WBO super welterweight title.
Yet WBO officials now want a fight between the pair finalised, and sent a letter to the No Limit on Wednesday confirming the fight must be made by September 30.
While Charlo is yet to publicly confirm his availability, the undisputed champ has not fought since defeating Brian Castano in May last year.
“So it’s massive,” No Limit CEO George Rose said of the WBO ruling.
“This is the news we’ve been waiting on.
“But again, it highlights just how big a risk Tim’s fight next month on the Gold Coast is.
“If Tim’s loses, it’s over. No Charlo, no undisputed, no nothing.
“Sunday June 18 has just become a whole lot bigger. The stakes couldn’t be higher.
“His shot at undisputed depends on it.”
Watch heavyweights Joseph Parker v Faiga ‘Django’ Opelu, the return of Nikita Tszyu plus former AFL stars Cameron Mooney and Tom Bellchambers in a pro-boxing debut. Tickets on sale NOW. Wednesday 24 May 7PM AEST.
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In response to granting permission for Tszyu to defend his interim title against Campo, WBO Championship Committee chairman Luis Batista-Salas wrote:
“Please be advised that the WBO World Championship Committee hereby grants sanction approval for the subject matter bout to be conducted on Sunday, June 18, 2023, at the Gold Coast Convention Centre, Broadbeach, Queensland, Australia.
Sanction approval is granted subject to the following provisions, most notably
(i) The winner must face in his next bout the WBO Jr. Middleweight Champion no later than September 30, 2023;
(ii) the winner must be available, ready, willing, and able to face in his next bout the WBO Jr. Middleweight Champion within the above referenced period;
(iii) if the winner is not available to fight in his next bout the WBO Jr. Middleweight Champion regardless the reasons or circumstances, the WBO World Championship Committee shall proceed pursuant to the WBO Regulations of World Championship Contests; and
(iv) the Committee reserves the right to issue all further rulings deemed necessary, helpful, and convenient to accomplish the purposes, policies, and intent of the WBO rules, including, but not limited to rendering all rulings necessary to serve the best interests in the sport of professional boxing, including those in the WBO Jr. Middleweight Division.