Tszyu triumphs in unanimous decision, calls out Charlo for light-middleweight showdown
Posted : 16 October 2023
In a thrilling display of prowess, Australian pugilist Tim Tszyu defended his WBO light-middleweight title with a resounding unanimous decision over the American warrior, Brian Mendoza. All three judges saw fit to grace Tszyu with their scores, tallying up 116-111, 116-112, and 117-111 in his favor. The 12-round battle, which unfolded on the picturesque shores of Australia's Gold Coast, was nothing short of brutal, cementing Tszyu's status as a formidable force in the division.
Post-victory, Tszyu wasted no time in igniting the flames of rivalry by calling out the American champion, Jermell Charlo, who reigns supreme as the WBA, WBC, and IBF light-middleweight titleholder. "Charlo, where are you?" Tszyu's fiery words echoed through the arena.
The 28-year-old Australian had earned his right to this challenge, initially clinching the WBO interim title by triumphing over American Tony Harrison and subsequently defending it against Mexico's Carlos Ocampo, thus securing his position as Charlo's mandatory challenger.
However, in an unexpected twist, Charlo ventured into a weight class above to face the Mexican undisputed super-middleweight champion, Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez, in Las Vegas. Alas, he was bested by unanimous decision, and the WBO belt slipped from his grasp, allowing Tszyu to ascend from interim to full champion. Tszyu's taunt was direct and unapologetic: "He'll probably think in his delusional head that he would beat me. Come get it. Let's prove to everyone who is king of this division."
Meanwhile, across the globe in Houston, Kazakhstan's Janibek Alimkhanuly engaged in a monumental clash against Germany's Vincenzo Gualtieri. Both were unbeaten champions in the middleweight category, and it was a contest of unification.
Alimkhanuly, a southpaw virtuoso, skillfully maintained his WBO title while adding the IBF crown to his collection. The fight concluded dramatically when the referee intervened early in the sixth round, sealing Alimkhanuly's legacy as a dominant force in the division.
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