Jermall Charlo has delivered a double-barreled warning to Tim Tszyu as the countdown to the Australian’s July 26 blockbuster against Errol Spence Jnr continues.
Incredibly, the undefeated American superstar has also admitted to knowing nothing about the man he himself fights on the most stacked card in Australian boxing history, revealing he doesn’t even know what Koen Mazoudier looks like.
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Speaking with Fox Sports Australia this week, 36-year-old Charlo insisted Tszyu, while a gutsy, come forward fighter, would be no chance of beating his twin brother Jermell in a showdown — and despite the pair having been slated to throw down for over three years.
As revealed earlier this week, Jermell Charlo will be jetting into Sydney later this month to sit ringside for Tszyu’s upcoming Sydney blockbuster against Errol Spence Jnr.
Should Tszyu win, the former undisputed super welterweight king is then expected to enter the ring and demand the pair finally throw down in a bout that has been delayed ever since Christmas 2022, when the American busted his hand in sparring.
“And, man, that would be a good fight,” his brother enthused down a phone line from Texas.
“And brutal because both of them are so explosive.
“But my brother, he isn’t like an Errol Spence. He isn’t just gunna come straight forward.
“He’s going to make Tim Tszyu miss, he’s going to land shots up and down, so I do feel like my brother edges the fight.
“Although if he isn’t on his A game? Man, I do see stipulations where Tszyu could have an advantage. But still, I don’t think he can beat my brother.”
Already, Jermell Charlo has said he is tipping Tszyu to beat Spence.
His twin brother Jermall disagreed this week however, saying ‘The Phoenix’ is set to lose a brutal headliner against Spence, who doubles as his longtime friend and training partner.
In fact, Charlos insisted that the former welterweight king, and one of the greatest fighters of the modern era, should not be underestimated despite having spent three years out of the sport since his lopsided loss to Terence Crawford.
Asked how much of the old Spence was still left, Charlo warned: “I’ve known Errol ever since the amateurs and he’s still that same guy.
“He’s looking good, looking tough … he’s going to win.
“But it’s going to be a brutal match too because both guys come forward and give it their all. And that’s why I think this fight is one fans will like and will really do numbers.”
So as for suggestions Tszyu’s style is custom made for his mate?
“It’s not that it’s custom made for Errol,” the fighter dubbed ‘Hit Man’ continued. “But living in Texas, we’re real close to Mexico so we tend to fight a lot of Mexican guys.
“And Mexican fighters, they come forward. And they come forward strong, just like Australian fighters, so I feel like Errol is going to be used to Tszyu’s style.”
Think Spence finishes him?
“That, I can’t call,” he said. “But if he catches Tszyu early, maybe.”
While the Charlo brothers are currently not on speaking terms, Jermall said he did expect the pair to both be in Sydney, where he fights as part of a stacked undercard that also sees fellow American Stephen Fulton face Australia’s two-time title contender Liam Wilson.
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Other VIPs expected to attend include Bud Crawford, Shawn Porter, Pauli Malignaggi, Danny Green, Anthony Mundine, a host of NRL superstars and Australia’s newest boxing world champion, Liam Paro.
Only last month, American boxing journalist Mike Coppinger was the first to report that Jermell Charlo was being lined up to face the winner of Tszyu-Spence.
“I’m told he’s going to be lined up for the winner,” Coppinger said on Inside Ring Show.
“Nothing’s done yet.
“But what I’m told is, behind the scenes, Charlo is being lined up for that fight, which will be at 154.”
So while Jermell Charlo will be watching from ringside, twin brother Jermall will be throwing down against Mazoudier, who has won three straight since his 2024 Fight of the Year against Nikita Tszyu.
Yet when asked for his thoughts on the man who has been pitched into something of a Rocky opportunity, the undefeated American was brutally honest.
“I don’t even know how he look,” Charlo shrugged of Mazoudier. “But I don’t study my opponents.
“I’m focused on me.
“So I’m not focused on what Koen does. I know he’s a tough fighter because he’s out of Australia. And that’s all I need to know. Nothing else.
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“Once I’m in the ring, I can make adjustments. But I doubt he’s going to be able to switch up his style and show me something I’ve never seen before.
“But the guy has experience and he’s coming to win.
“And we know Australians are warriors who bring a big fight. There’s been brutal matches from all the great Australian champions and I’m expecting an all out war myself.
“But for me, it’s about sharpening up my tools.”
Meanwhile, and when asked recently to predict a winner for Tszyu-Spence, Jermell Charlo surprisingly tipped against his fellow American.
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“I think Tim Tszyu is going to win that fight,” Charlo said on The Last Stand Podcast.
“When I’m going by the styles of fights and being realistic, he’s going over there to Australia, the odds ain’t in his hands. Errol’s going to be coming in and don’t really move his head. Tim Tszyu throws haymakers, all of his shots are. I see Tim Tszyu winning this fight, plain and simple.”