Tim Tszyu Upgraded to WBO World Champion

When Jermell Charlo is declared the WBO light middleweight world champion in his contentious fight with Canelo Alvarez, Tim Tszyu, ESPN’s No. 8 pound-for-pound boxer, will be promoted to that title.

In a lengthy statement released on Thursday, the WBO announced the decision and approved the September 30 superfight, which prevented Tszyu from taking Charlo’s mandatory shot at all the championships.

Instead of engaging in the mandatory Tszyu fight, Charlo jumped two divisions to face Alvarez in a risky move that was always going to damage his reputation.
In order to maintain his interim status while waiting for Charlo, who had previously postponed the bout because of an injury, Tszyu defeated Tony Harrison and then knocked out Carlos Ocampo.

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According to the WBO statement, Charlo’s title would be “terminated” as soon as he was introduced and entered the ring in Las Vegas, Nevada, the following month. Then, Tszyu will be promoted automatically to complete champion, just as he would be if the Canelo-Charlo fight were to be called off for whatever reason.

In an interview conducted ringside at the Terence Crawford-Error Spence Jr fight over the weekend, Charlo dismissed Tszyu’s appeal. Although the Australian has been associated with both middleweights, Tszyu may face American Brian Mendoza in a more likely matchup.

He now owns the WBC interim belt, and if the WBC follows the WBO’s example and removes Charlo, a Tszyu-Mendoza fight would be a world title unification contest.