The Tim Tszyu main card is in disarray after Jermall Charlo has been denied a visa into Australia and won’t fight next week. Charlo was one of the big name US fighters set to fight before Tszyu and Errol Spence Jnr next week.
While Tszyu and Spencer Jnr were the headline act, Charlo added weight to the card with the boxer a huge name in the sport. Unfortunately, Charlo’s bout with Aussie middleweight Kane Mazoudier has been cancelled.
The Tim Tszyu (pictured left) main card is in disarray after Jermall Charlo (pictured right) was denied a visa into Australia. (Images: Getty Images)
Charlo is a former middleweight champion, but appears to have been denied a visa due to due to ‘past legal issues’, according to Dan Rafael. Charlo admitted he was disappointed having trained for last few months for the bout. “Unfortunately, I will not be able to fight next Saturday,” Charlo wrote on social media.
“I’ve been training nonstop for the last three months and was ready to make a statement. I want to apologise to all my fans and let them know I will keep training and be back on a PBC event very soon.”
This throws the main card into a spin with No Limit Boxing now seeking a new opponent for Mazoudier. Fortunately, the main fight is still going ahead with Spence Jnr the biggest name on the card.
Tim Tszyu ready for Errol Spence Jnr
Spence Jnr arrived in Australia this week and visited the Sydney Swans game against the Adelaide Crows on Friday night. Spence Jnr hasn’t fought since his loss to Terrence Crawford three years ago. When asked if he had a message for Tszyu, he was brief. “I don’t have no message for [Tszyu]. I’m the big fish. I’m going to come take over his backyard,” he said.
Crawford handed Spence Jnr his first defeat after a TKO. Tszyu recently returned from his TKO defeat to Sebastian Fundora in the middleweight fight. The defeat marked the second time Tszyu had lost to Fundora.
Tszyu has changed trainers since the Fundora defeat and was victorious against Anthony Velazquez in his comeback bout. He then went the distance against Denis Nurja, but was dominant. He now faces future Hall of Fame fighter Spence Jnr in Sydney.
Speaking ahead of the fight, Tszyu said this was the best he had felt in his career. “I feel like I found myself,” he said.
“I know my body know, I know what I’m made of. I know what it takes to get in peak position…I think over the years you learn what you’re good at, what you’re bad at, learn from your flaws and this is the best of Tim Tszyu right now, sitting here.”
Errol Spence Jr. (pictured) last fought against Terence Crawford. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)