WBO junior middleweight champion Tim Tszyu 24-0 (17) says he can see himself fighting as high up as super middleweight in his career.
The 29-year-old Australian is scheduled to face former WBC and WBA welterweight champion Keith Thurman 30-1 (22) in a 12-round non-title bout at 155-pounds at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on March 30.
For years, Tszyu has called out the top names in and around the 154-pound division and that has not changed since he claimed the WBO title last year.
Make no mistake, Tszyu wants all the smoke.
“The 154-pound division is red-hot right now,” Tszyu told Fight Hub TV. “Besides [Jermell] Charlo — I don’t know what’s going on with him, he’s long gone — but it’s interesting. You’ve got [Errol] Spence moving up, I would definitely love a fight with him one day. I can move up to 160, even 168. I’m not afraid. I’m a throwback fighter, I’m not afraid. I’ll fight anyone. I don’t give a shit.”
That includes undisputed super middleweight champion Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez 60-2-2 (39).
“I would love too [fight him,” Tszyu said. “Me and Canelo, I’d love to.”
Tszyu was asked his thoughts on a proposed Alvarez versus David Benavidez 28-0 (24) bout.
“Look, I’m a big fan of Benavidez,” Tszyu said. “I think he’s an absolute monster, an absolute animal. If they were to fight, my brain would be on Benavidez.”
Former WBC, WBA and IBF welterweight champion Spence 28-1 (22) is expected to campaign at junior middleweight going forward after suffering his first professional loss to Terence ‘Bud’ Crawford 40-0 (31) by ninth-round knockout in their undisputed 147-pound fight in July last year.
The 33-year-old Texan southpaw has since had cataract surgery and is recuperating before making his 154-pound debut.
“I think he’s alright, I think that stuff [cataracts surgery] will recover,” Tszyu said. “I don’t think Spence has ever been the same after his car crash. Even with the Terence Crawford fight — all praise to Terence, of course — but it looked like it wasn’t the same Spence. He was off in every way possible, and that’s just in my opinion.”
Tszyu will be making his Las Vegas debut when he takes on Thurman in what will be his fourth fight in just over a year.
“There’s no more old school fighters these days anymore,” he lamented. “They’re all a bunch pussies. They fight once a year and then they go on two-year vacations.
“I actually fight. Last year we did three shows with Showtime and that was the most any fighter did in the whole year. So for me it’s just about activity. I’m willing to fight anyone and I do damage when I get in the ring.”
Thurman, 35, of Clearwater, Florida has suffered from inactivity in recent years, but Tszyu isn’t relying on that being a factor in their fight.
“No. That’s part of it but there’s also other parts and it’s just gonna be that I’m that much better and he’s gonna realise it,” Tszyu said.
“I’m gonna do what [Manny] Pacquiao didn’t and that’s knock him out.”
