Jermall Charlo’s ongoing visa issues have seen him grounded in the United States for a second straight day, and amid claims the American superstar is effectively acting as a late replacement for his twin brother.
The surprise revelation comes as Errol Spence Jnr’s team have also denied that they are behind a decision to shift the fight against Tim Tszyu to 160 pounds.
Tszyu v Spence Jr. | Sunday July 26 from 11am AEST | Tim Tszyu takes on the biggest name in his career so far – future hall-of-famer Errol Spence Jr, in a can’t miss event for boxing fans around the world. | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.
As first revealed by Fox Sports Australia, the July 26 blockbuster between Tszyu and Spence Jnr is now being increased to a middleweight bout – despite the pair having previously campaigned at super welterweight and welterweight respectively.
Yet when jetting into the country on Thursday morning, both Spence and his trainer Ronnie Shields shrugged off the move up from an agreed catchweight of 158 pounds – with the coach even suggesting the increase wasn’t at their request.
The other surprise was the omission of Charlo, who is a stablemate of Spence and slated to fight Koen Mazoudier in the co-main of what is being billed as the biggest Australian boxing card ever.
On Thursday afternoon however, a No Limit spokesperson suggested neither Charlo or fellow American Stephen Fulton — who also fights on the undercard — had flown out of LAX that evening, US time.
Both are understood to be enduring issues with visas.
Meanwhile, Mazoudier has also revealed to Fox Sports Australia how, before agreeing to the biggest fight of his career, he was initially in talks for both Jermell Charlo and WBA middleweight champ Erislandy Lara.
“When discussions for this card first started, Lara was the first name I received,” Mazoudier said. “Then there was also talk of Jermell Charlo, before it then switched to his brother Jermall.
“And I said ‘yes’ to all three because I know I’m a world class fighter.
“I mean, with some of my more recent fights (domestically), I’ve just known I was going to win. I’ve known I was better than the guy in there against me.
“And those fights don’t excite me.
“But a challenge like what I have now? Where I don’t know if I’m going to win, but I definitely know that I can?
“That’s what lights my spirit on fire.”
“That’s Cap” Tszyu/Spence fiery face-off | 01:42
While Jermell Charlo won’t be fighting on Sunday week, he is also expected to be at the event.
There is talk US promoters PBC want the former undisputed super welterweight champ to face the winner of Tszyu/Spence – and will have him enter the ring for a face off.
While both Charlos will be in Sydney, the pair are currently experiencing something of a fallout and have not spoken for some time.
Elsewhere, and when arriving into Australia on Thursday morning, famed US trainer Shields suggested his team were not behind the decision to move the fight weight up by two pounds to the middleweight limit.
“No, it wasn’t,” he told The Punch Podcast, while also rejecting claims his charge is struggling with his weight cut after three years out.
“Errol has never stopped training,” Shields continued. “He just had no idea he was going to fight. He was doing it for health reasons.
“And then, he decided one day ‘you know what, I’m going to try it again’. And that’s when I got the call. And here we are.”
Pushed on the weight, he laughed: “I don’t know anything about that. I don’t know anything about the two pounds. And it doesn’t make a difference, man. Two pounds is no worries anyway.”
Shields also said he expected Charlo, who he also trains, in Sydney by Saturday morning.
“He’s coming tomorrow or the next day,” he said. “And camp (for him) has been great, really great. He feels so excited to come to Australia.
“And let me tell you something, he’s ready for that championship run. And he’s going to start it here in Australia.”
“Daddy’s shadow” Spence fires at Tszyu | 10:36
Meanwhile, Mazoudier has also responded to Charlos’ recent claims that he has no idea what the now Central Coast fighter even looks like.
Mazoudier noted that when the Texan made the revelation on a recent Main Event Australia interview, he was wearing a promotional event for the Australian card that included both their faces on the back.
“Which I thought was funny,” he said. “I don’t really know how you can be saying s*** like you don’t know what I look like when my face is right there on your shirt.
“[Laughs] Although to be honest, I’ve watched a few of his fights over the years and never really been able to discern which was him and which was Jermell.
“I do know they’ve both had their success, and both had their troubles. But look, he’s a two-division world champion, beaten everyone they’ve put in front of them, and knocked out two thirds of them.
“So he’s a legitimate superstar
“And when he says he doesn’t know what I look like, that he is only focused on himself, I get it. And I’m the same.
“I saw him say something about how he’s also coming out here for a holiday and keen to enjoy the country. So good on him.
“But the holiday won’t be much fun if I upset him …”