Rising junior middleweight star Tim Tszyu 19-0 (15) is set to face once-beaten Japanese boxer Takeshi Inoue 17-1-1 (10) In Australia on November 17 at a venue to be named.
Inoue was expected to face countryman Rei Nakajima at the famed Korakuen Hall in Tokyo on November 6 but has opted to take the bigger fight against the WBO number one contender.
WBO number seven Inoue has won four fight on the bounce since his 12-round unanimous decision loss to then-WBO 154-pound champion Jaime Munguia 37-0 (30) in January 2019.
In an interview with Ben Damon of Fox Sports, the 31-year-old warned he should not be underestimated.
“Probably because among all the world-ranked boxers, they consider me a low-risk opponent,” Inoue said. “I believe they will regret it.”
Inoue sees the fight evolving into a slugfest by the mid-rounds.
“I think we’ll start off exchanging jabs, then slug it out on the inside. In the later rounds, I’ll break his heart and win,” Inoue said.
“I’ll finish him by KO.”
Promoter George Rose of No Limit Boxing said he was expecting Inoue to present a tough test.
“Takeshi Inoue he’s an absolute warrior,” Rose told Damon. “He’s someone who’s going to try and bring it to Tim.
“Tim’s the No.1 challenger, he’s the mandatory challenger in the WBO and everyone wants a piece of that.”
Sydneysider Tszyu, 26, was expecting to face former world champion Tony Harrison 28-3-1 (21) of America before negotiations broke down this week.
Other names being bandied about included the six-foot-six southpaw Sebastian Fundora 17-0-1 (12), former US Olympian Terrell Gausha 22-2-1 (11) and WBC number two Sergio Garcia 33-0 (14) but it was ultimately Inoue who earned the assignment.
As for Tszyu, he says he couldn’t care less who is standing across the ring from him on fight night.
“I’ve gotten to the stage where I couldn’t care less who I fight,” Tszyu told the Herald.
“I’m not in this sport for a long time and I might as well make the most of every opportunity to jump on board while this ship is sailing.
“Bring me someone in the top 10. I just want to get in there and punch someone’s head in. I couldn’t care less about who is in front of me right now. I just want to get it on.
“It’s not going 12 rounds.
“I’m doing Jaime Munguia’s leftovers; he was a world champion and I’m fighting for no belt at the moment. I’ll take over everyone he fought when he had the world title.
“I’m fighting all of these boys without a world title.”
Tszyu is targeting a shot at WBO champion Brian Castano 17-0-2 (12) who was held to a draw by WBC, WBA and IBF champion Jermell Charlo 34-1-1 (18) in San Antonio, Texas in July. But with the Argentinean pushing for an immediate rematch against American Charlo, he may have to wait.
Regardless of whether the Castano fight can be made in the near future or not, Tszyu says he will remain active while waiting for his world title shot.
“It could be my last fight here in Australia, you never know,” Tszyu continued.
“The manager and promoter pulled it off, even when everyone thought it couldn’t be done. It just shows we are leading the pack here in Australia.
“It’s a good stepping stone to the big boys. It was always my goal to entertain the Aussie fans, to give them an opportunity to experience this with me.
“The further you go in your career, the more it goes to the international level. We can host events here, but the big time is in the States. That’s where we will be going eventually.
“This will be a tough challenge, I’m sure he will give me my toughest fight, the toughest test of my career.”
Tszyu added to Sporting News: “I’m mandatory, that means I’m fighting [Castano] next, no matter what. Unless he fights Charlo [in a rematch].
“I’ll be there ready to go. I’ve got my passport ready and we’re ready to fly out if things get to that stage soon.”
