Tim Tszyu To Fight Tony Harrison In March While Jermell Charlo Remains Sidelined

It looks like Tim Tszyu has taken up Tony Harrison on his offer.  

Tszyu will reportedly fight Harrison on March 12 for the WBO junior middleweight interim title in Australia, it was announced on Sunday. While the exact location has yet to be decided, the matchup will happen Sunday after in Australia and be televised in prime time in the United States on Saturday night. 

“Every fight you take is all on the line, you’re one punch away from going back to the very bottom. It’s all on the line and a gamble, but this is what I do. This is boxing, it’s part of my career and I’m a fighter first,” Tszyu told National Indigenous Times. 

“He (Harrison) was the next best available option. I’m at that stage of my career that I really don’t care who is in front of me. I’m ready to take them all out.” 

Tszyu was originally scheduled to face undisputed super welterweight champion Jermell Charlo on January 28, but that has temporarily been put off after Charlo sustained a broken left hand during training late last month.  

Charlo posted evidence on social media that the injury was valid.  

Tszyu has been waiting for his awaited title shot as the WBO mandatory challenger.  

He was forced to wait when then-titleholder Brian Castano pursued a fight with Charlo; the first fight ended in a split draw. Then Tszyu had to wait again after the two had a second fight, which named Charlo as the undisputed champion via knockout. 

Tszyu further cemented his case for a title shot after he defeated Terrell Gausha by unanimous decision in March 2022, which was also his first fight in the U.S. 

Harrison suffered his last loss to Charlo in 2018 by unanimous decision. After that, he recorded a split draw against Bryant Perrella. It was until his latest fight in April 2022 that he returned to the winning column; he won by points against Sergio Garcia. 

A win for Tszyu would mean his awaited title shot and a win for Harrison would mean a third crack at Charlo.