AMERICAN superstar Jermell Charlo has bizarrely claimed Tim Tszyu was helped to the biggest win of his career by salty tap water, while also warning “your daddy ain’t in the ring with you” should they fight later this year.
Already dubbed the face of Australian boxing, Tszyu will look to win his way into a hyped Charlo blockbuster when he throws down against Mexico’s Carlos Ocampo at the Gold Coast Convention this Sunday.
Fighting for the interim WBO super welterweight title, the bout will be Tszyu’s second since Charlo withdrew from their proposed January showdown.
Watch undefeated Australian superstar Tim Tszyu put his title on the line against Mexican warrior Carlos Ocampo LIVE on Main Event available on Kayo Sports. No kayo subscription needed. Sunday 18 June 6PM AEST. ORDER NOW >
The Sydneysider has since rolled the dice with both Ocampo and America’s Tony Harrison, who he beat via brutal ninth round stoppage in March.
Speaking on Showtime overnight however, Charlo suggested Tszyu was aided in the Harrison fight by Australian tap water.
The undisputed super welterweight king also took a dig at ‘The Soul Taker’ for trying to mimic his Hall of Fame father Kostya Tszyu’s style.
Tszyu’s war cry ignites Aussies | 03:03
Asked about his impending showdown with Tszyu, Charlo suggested he would “take his will from him right away”.
Unprompted, he also took a shot at the Tszyu family saying: “I don’t care about none of that.
“Your daddy ain’t in the ring, your daddy era is old.
“You keep up with that style, you don’t adapt to this new era, this new style, you’re going to end up having more problems anyway.
“Mohammed Ali was great in his era.
“This is a different era right now.”
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Asked about Tszyu’s most recent win over fellow American Harrison, Charlo suggested that something was off with the fighter who beat him for the WBC crown back in 2018.
“I feel like something ain’t right with him,” he said.
“Something about Australia.
“The way we get treated in America in fight week and all that, I felt like it was a little bit different.
“I know for a fact he didn’t have his business orientation as well.
“They probably put him in a nice hotel … they have nice hotels all over the world … but the secret thing about Australia is they got a little salt in their water.
“So just rehydrating is going to be bad.
“Just by the way you losing your weigh, cutting, then you putting salt water in your body, you holding on … maybe the weight cut was the issue.
“I’m not trying to make an excuse for him but … it’s a little different over there, bro.
“It had to be, just the audience, something wasn’t right with him.
“Me personally, if I’d have went over there I would have used that crowd, I would have automatically eliminated the crowd.
“Shut ‘em up and keep ’em shut up.
“You doing good, you winning rounds; every time Tim try to do something they getting rowdy, I would use that energy.”
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‘Try to get it over and done with early! | 03:31
Charlo also agreed that Tszyu had likely watched his own win over Harrison and then copied certain elements himself, saying: “He probably studied that fight … ‘Charlo was letting them uppercuts go so I got to let them uppercuts go on him.’’
Elsewhere in the interview, Charlo continued: “Tim got power, we all seen that.
“You can go back over his previous fights, he’s 28 years old, he’s young.
“He didn’t really have too much ring rust from his little break … but you back home over there and you got all your little fans, you getting advantages and stuff.
“You back at home in your comfort.
“I’m going to take him out of the comfortable position and see how it can do it when uncomfortable.
“If you beat me, you beat me – best man wins.
“I’m not here trying to hold on to undisputed record, I’m cool with that.
“I’m just undisputed — and I’ve just worked too hard to have this so I’m just going to go the extra mile.
‘A lot of boxers aren’t Tim Tszyu!’ | 01:06
Watch undefeated Australian superstar Tim Tszyu put his title on the line against Mexican warrior Carlos Ocampo LIVE on Main Event available on Kayo Sports. No kayo subscription needed. Sunday 18 June 6PM AEST. ORDER NOW >
“I definitely know for a fact that nobody else in boxing has what I possess in the ring, especially at my weight.
“I’m a much larger fighter than people think.
“My arms are faster and longer, I pack a different punch, my lateral movement is ridiculous.
“I can’t sing, but I can dance. I’m an artist in the ring.”