Having burst into the boxing scene with remarkable success, Tim Tszyu has caught the attention of many within the sport, including former WBA junior middleweight champion, Austin Trout. Despite Tszyu’s recent surge, Trout is skeptical of his prospects, especially regarding the anticipated face-off against Jermell Charlo.
Tszyu’s rise has been noteworthy, achieving a top ranking in the WBO at 154 pounds after only 20 fights, mostly against lesser-known fighters in Australia. With a record of 23-0, including 17 KOs, Tszyu is marked as Charlo’s mandatory challenger. However, injuries have delayed their showdown, providing Tszyu the opportunity to stay active, resulting in impressive stoppage victories against Tony Harrison and Carlos Ocampo.
Yet, Trout remains unconvinced, suggesting that Tszyu's recent success will be cut short once he steps in the ring with him. “Y’all wanna legitimize Tim Tszyu? Bring him my way,” Trout said. “I’ll stop that train. He gets hit too much.” According to Trout, Tszyu’s aggressive but risky style of taking shots to land one will fail against his defense.
At 37, Trout is aware that his boxing career is nearing its conclusion. Yet, he feels that his recent streak of five consecutive wins, which has pushed him up to the WBA’s number six, isn't enough to leapfrog him to the front of the line. As Tszyu and Charlo prepare for their bout, Trout, playing the role of spectator, remains confident about the outcome, stating bluntly: “I think Charlo is gonna smash him.”
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