Retired Australian boxer Anthony Mundine has heaped praise on undefeated WBO junior middleweight champion Tim Tszyu 24-0 (17) for his willingness to take on all comers in and around his weight class.
The 29-year-old Tszyu from Sydney, Australia had a breakout year in 2023, claiming the scalps of former world champion Tony Harrison, Mexican champion Carlos Ocampo and world-rated contender Brian Mendoza. The busy scheduled earned him the WBO strap and put him on the radar of fight fans around the globe.
Next up for Tszyu is a 12-round 155-pound catchweight bout against former WBC and WBA welterweight champion Keith Thurman 30-1 (22) in his Las Vegas debut on March 30.
It’s not the opponent Tszyu wanted but it’s the opponent he got after negotiations with highly-regarded contender Erickson ‘Hammer’ Lubin 26-2 (18) collapsed.
Mundine, who retired from the sport with a record of 48-11 (28) three years ago, says he believes Tszyu has the talent and work ethic to challenge his famous father Kostya Tszyu for the mantle of the best boxer in the family.
“Tim’s doing very well and he’s got a good fight against Thurman but Thurman’s been inactive, though, and I think he should beat him because of that and the size,” Mundine said to News Corp.
“I reckon he’ll break him down and stop him late.
“In order to beat dad he’s got to fight the top guys like (Terence) Bud Crawford but he’s willing to fight all those guys, he’s talked about even fighting Canelo (Alvarez).
“That’s where he’s going to cement his legacy.”
The Tszyu vs Thurman fight will headline a four-fight pay-per-view card in PBC’s inaugural card on Prime Video. Tszyu is looking to replicate his father’s success in Vegas, where he boxed five times for some of his biggest wins including his first world title victory against Jake ‘The Snake’ Rodriguez and unification wins over Sharmba Mitchell and Zab Judah.
“I’ve been ready and waiting to headline a historic event like this in the US for a very long time and it’s an honour that I don’t take lightly,” said Tszyu.
“My father did it and was at the top of the world for a decade, now it’s my turn.
“Thurman is a great fight, he’s tricky, tough and he’s mixed it with the very best the sport has seen. This is a new era now. It’s the Tszyu era. On March 30, everyone who tunes into this pay-per-view is going to see for themselves.”
Mundine believes he left Aussie boxing in better shape than when he found it after his 21-year pro career.
“Georgie Kambosos is doing his thing, Jai Opetaia, when he was a young fella, he used to come down the gym and spar,” Mundine said.
“I mean, I was there when they were young pups.
“They all wanted to be ‘The Man’ and now they’re making their own statements and they’re being ‘The Man’ they wanted to be back in the day.
“I keep up with the boys and like to see them having success.”
