Tim Tszyu Still Wants Jermell Charlo Fight

Tszyu says Charlo remains the man at 154 despite inactivity

Apr. 7, 2026 at 8:24am

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A cubist-style painting depicting a boxing match between two figures, their bodies and movements fractured into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes in a vibrant color palette.Tszyu's pursuit of a fight with the inactive Charlo reveals his strategic focus on building his profile over immediately chasing titles.Charlo Today

Tim Tszyu says a fight with Jermell Charlo remains high on his list, even as he prepares for other options at 154 pounds. Tszyu made it clear he still views Charlo as a central figure in the division despite his inactivity and the belts changing hands.

Why it matters

Tszyu is targeting older, established names like Charlo and Errol Spence Jr. rather than the current champions in the 154-pound division, which suggests he is more focused on building his profile and resume than immediately going after the titles.

The details

Tszyu said 'Charlo for sure' when asked about desired opponents, stating that even though Charlo has been inactive, he is still the 'king of the 154 division' in Tszyu's eyes. Tszyu acknowledged that Charlo 'sort of went on his honeymoon' and 'never really forfeited' the division, so a fight with him remains high on Tszyu's bucket list.

  • Tszyu made these comments after defeating Denis Nurja on April 5, 2026.
  • Tszyu is preparing to fight Errol Spence Jr. this summer.

The players

Tim Tszyu

A professional boxer who competes in the junior middleweight division and is the son of former boxer Kostya Tszyu.

Jermell Charlo

A professional boxer who is the undisputed junior middleweight champion, holding the WBA, WBC, IBF, and WBO titles.

Errol Spence Jr.

A professional boxer who competes in the welterweight division and is a former unified welterweight champion.

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What they’re saying

“'Charlo for sure,' Tszyu said to Brian Custer's channel when asked about desired opponents. 'I think just because he's never lost to get the title back. To a certain extent, he's still the king of the 154 division in my eyes,'”

— Tim Tszyu, Boxer

“'He sort of went on his honeymoon, say, and he sort of gave up the division. He never really forfeited from it, so I feel like Charlo would be definitely on the bucket list,'”

— Tim Tszyu, Boxer

What’s next

Tszyu is scheduled to fight Errol Spence Jr. this summer, which will be a major test for him against an established star, even if Spence is coming off a long layoff.

The takeaway

Tszyu is taking an unconventional approach by targeting older, inactive fighters like Charlo and Spence rather than the current champions in the 154-pound division. This suggests he is more focused on building his profile and resume than immediately going after the titles, even if it means facing opponents who may not be at their absolute peak.