Undefeated Australian Tim Tszyu 17-0 (13) has nominated IBF middleweight champion Gennadiy Golovkin 40-1-1 (36) as his dream opponent.
The 26-year-old Sydneysider made the comments in the lead up to his fight against former world title challenger Dennis ‘Hurricane’ Hogan 28-3-1 (7) at Newcastle Stadium in Newcastle, Australia on Wednesday night.
“My dream fight would be against GGG,” the WBO number one junior middleweight contender told news.com.au this week.
“He’s been my idol for the last five, six years. At one stage I idolised him and then at another stage I said ‘you know what, that would be a fight I’d love to take one day’.”
Tszyu will be looking to make a statement against Hogan, 36, who lost a controversial decision to world champion Jaime Munguia 36-0 (29) in Mexico two years ago before moving up in weight to face WBC middleweight champion Jermall Charlo 31-0 (22) in Brooklyn in December 2019. Hogan lost that fight by seventh-round stoppage, but he has mixed with a higher level of opposition than Tszyu.
“It’s another step closer to (a world title),” Tszyu said. “Dennis Hogan has been in with Charlo, Munguia, the tops boys in the division, and he’s given them trouble. So it’s going to be good to see how I compare against him to the way they fought.”
Tszyu has grand ambitions to unify the 154-pound weight class before moving up in weight. If successful against Hogan, he wants his mandatory title shot against WBO titleholder Brian Castano 17-0-1 (12) next before a fight against WBC, WBA and IBF champion Jermell Charlo 34-1 (18), the twin brother of Jermall.
Argentinean Castano lifted the WBO strap from Brazil’s Patrick Teixeira 31-2 (22) with a wide unanimous decision win in Indio, California in February.
“I’ve been keeping my eyes on these boys. They’re the boys that I want,” Tszyu said.
“Charlo especially because he’s got all the belts. But of course there’s Castano who has the belt I want to fight for, because I’m the number one contender.
“If Teixeira won he would’ve been mine straight away but Castano won so there’s more politics involved and it’s a bit harder to make.”
At the press conference on Monday, Hogan addressed rumours that he suffered a nose injury in training camp.
“I had heard second hand that there were questions as to whether it was my nose that was hurt or we were looking for more time for my coach to come over,” Hogan said.
“I’ll tell you now I had a bit of an issue for my nose and we were told if you could not spar for four weeks we would be good. But we were told we wouldn’t get some extra time for it so we sparred anyway and it’s fully healed now.
“It’s a bit more wonky if anyone wants to question our integrity. But I’m good to go.”
Tszyu responded that he would do his talking in the ring.
“Contracts, broken noses, I couldn’t care less. Just get me in the ring,” he said.
“I’m here to hurt my opponent. It’s not going to be no warm-up fight, that’s for sure. I’m expecting the best Dennis Hogan, he’s a great fighter and I’ve got full respect for him. But when you get in the ring… this is my ring, you’re in my world and I’m not going to let anyone out.
“In boxing I’m not here to tip and tap – I’m here to do damage.”
