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Rival insults Tim Tszyu in brutal spray after title triumph

Tim Tszyu has brushed off a brutal taunt from boxing rival Jermell Charlo, confident in his status as the super wlterweight champion's next mandatory challenger. Pictures: Getty Images
Tim Tszyu has brushed off a brutal taunt from boxing rival Jermell Charlo, confident in his status as the super wlterweight champion's next mandatory challenger. Pictures: Getty Images

Australian super welterweight boxer Tim Tszyu is unbothered by a stinging rebuke from key rival Jermell Charlo, after the American became the undisputed champion of the weight class last weekend.

Charlo turned in one of the most impressive performances of his career to unify the super welterweight belts against Argentinian contender Brian Castano, knocking him out in the 10th round.

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Tszyu is Charlo's mandatory WBO challenger, meaning the 31-year-old will have to accept Tszyu's challenge within the next three months or forfeit the belt.

The latter option would appear unlikely after Charlo delivered a brutal takedown of the 27-year-old Tszyu's standing in the boxing world after the fight.

Asked by an Australian reporter what his thoughts on mandatory challenger Tszyu were after the fight, Charlo was as dismissive as he was disrespectful, referencing the Aussie's knockdown at the hands of Terrell Gausha in his previous fight.

“Didn’t he get dropped? That motherf***er’s out. He got dropped,” Charlo quipped.

“It’s different heat over here in America, baby. It’s different heat in America.

“How much Tim Too, whatever his f***in’ name is, how much they got? How much money they got? F*** you and Tim Kazoo, change the mic.”

Tszyu has been angling to fight the likes of Charlo for some time, and was nonplussed by the American star's jobes.

In an interview with Fox Sports live from Los Angeles, Tszyu said trash talk meant nothing when Charlo realistically had only one option.

“He knows exactly who I am,” Tszyu said.

“After my last fight he made a video, he started talking smack then.

“Look, I’m the mandatory challenger for the belt that he’s got so three months to make a decision to fight me or he vacates the belt. You either vacate the belt or fight me, that’s the only choice he’s got.”

Tim Tszyu shrugs off Jermell Charlo's brutal boxing taunts

Tszyu is one of two mandatory challenges Charlo had ahead of him for his next title defence, with WBC interim title holder Sebastian Fundora the other key challenger.

Safe in the knowledge he could be facing one of his most 'disrespectful' opponents to date, Tszyu said he was unlikely to become involved in any slanging matches, instead preferring to work towards a win in the ring rather than on the mic.

“He’s a very disrespectful man. So stuff him I don’t like him anyway,” Tszyu said.

“Ultimately, if he wants to fight there’s me and Fundora and I’m the one that wants to fight more than anyone.

“I think me and him will sell because there’s no love between us to. It’s all hate.”

Tim Tszyu faced stiff opposition from Terrell Gausha in his US debut, but did enough to earn a decision win. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)
Tim Tszyu faced stiff opposition from Terrell Gausha in his US debut, but did enough to earn a decision win. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)

While his potential rival was quick to dismiss Tszyu's skills in the ring, the Aussie credited Charlo with an impressive fight against Castano.

Speaking on Fox Sports after the fight on Sunday afternoon, Tszyu praised the hard-hitting Charlo but cautioned he. was a different beast when compared to Castano.

“What a fight. The boys just went at it. A lot to learn from me and I’m very keen on the next one,” he said.

“He has got heavy hands. He makes opportunities from every mistake and with this kind of fight you’ve just got to be smart. He’s good at what he does .. he’s a smart boxer, he takes his time, he doesn’t rush things.

“But the thing is, me and Castano are completely different.

"We sort of have a similar style but I’m a walking Zombie, I’m ten times stronger and bigger than Castano. What is he going to do when that happens?”

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