Outside of a mandated rematch with Errol Spence Jr., Terence Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs) has expressed a desire to move on to the junior middleweight division.
“THAT’S MY OPINION” - Terence Crawford’s SURPRISE Tim Tszyu-Sebastian Fundora Rematch Prediction
Although nothing is set in stone, if Crawford does decide to challenge him, the ballsy Australian won’t back down an inch. “I’d welcome that fight with both hands,” said an amped-up Tszyu to Fight Hub TV. “I’m not scared of no one.”
While a matchup against Crawford makes sense, Tszyu is still hoping to land a showdown against Charlo. From a distance, Tszyu liked his chances of scoring the upset. Although Charlo does hold all four of the major world titles at 154 pounds, the 28-year-old doesn’t view him as some unbeatable juggernaut. Instead, Tszyu saw a fighter that, while good, isn’t the most complex to figure out.
Crawford, on the other hand, presents a different set of issues. Having fought as low as 135 pounds, Crawford, if he faces Tszyu, isn’t expected to have the size advantage. If their contest comes down to a battle of wills - Tszyu believes he’ll have him beat.
Realistically, a matchup against Crawford will force Tszyu to use his mind. Although he’s still as confident as ever, Tszyu admits that beating Crawford is as difficult a task as there is in the sport of boxing. “Crawford’s very hard to beat, very hard to beat. When I see Charlo I see a lot of gaps, a lot of holes. But Crawford?
Read also: Vergil Ortiz Jr. vs. Terence Crawford Preview
Let's consider some key statistics:
- Tszyu has a height advantage of 1 inch over Crawford.
- Crawford is currently the more experienced professional fighter, having had 13 more fights, and made his debut in 2008, 8 years and 9 months earlier than Tszyu, whose first professional fight was in 2016.
- Crawford's last 5 fights have come over a period of 4 years, 2 months and 10 days, which means he has been fighting approximately every 10 months and 2 days.
- Tszyu's last 5 fights have come over a period of 1 year and 10 months, meaning he has been fighting on average every 4 months and 14 days.
Here is a table summarizing some of the key differences between the two fighters:
| Attribute | Terence Crawford | Tim Tszyu |
|---|---|---|
| Height Advantage | -1 inch | +1 inch |
| Professional Experience | More (13 more fights, debuted in 2008) | Less (debuted in 2016) |
| Fight Frequency (Last 5 fights) | Every 10 months and 2 days | Every 4 months and 14 days |
Crawford's Perspective on Tszyu's Recent Defeat
Terence Crawford has shared his impressions on the surprising defeat of Tim Tszyu against Bakhram Murtazaliev. He stated that Tszyu underestimated Murtazaliev, who has a record of 23-0 with 17 knockouts. According to Crawford, Tszyu got distracted by focusing on other potential rivals. This lack of attention led him to be knocked out in the third round of a fight that took place on Saturday night in Orlando, Florida. “Tim thought he had an easy one. Took this dude lightly and was worried about other fighters”, wrote Terence Crawford on X.
The fight was a demonstration of strength by Murtazaliev, who knocked Tszyu down three times in the second round. He then knocked him down again in the third round, which prompted Tszyu’s corner to throw in the towel. The result was a clear reflection of Murtazaliev’s dominance in the ring.
Terence Crawford emphasized that, although Tszyu looked in good physical shape, he lacked the defense and mobility necessary to face such an aggressive fighter. Tszyu made a risky decision by choosing to face Murtazaliev.
Read also: Potential Rematch: Canelo vs. Crawford
Despite the extra time the ringside doctor gave Tszyu before the third round started, he was unable to recover. Crawford expressed his discontent with the time allowed for Tszyu, as he felt it did not change the outcome.
On the other hand, legendary boxer Shawn Porter also weighed in on the fight. He commented that Tszyu’s body language was arrogant and that he should not have tried to “fight fire with fire”.
“I thought Tim would be the guy moving to his left, circling and using his range. I know you see a reach difference or a disadvantage for Tim, but it doesn’t matter. I’ve outjabbed everyone that I’ve been in the ring with; everyone that I’ve been in the ring with has been taller and longer than me. It can be done.”
“I thought he was going to do that, but he didn’t. I think that’s what happened. They came out with a different style than what the Tszyu camp expected, and I think it just started to unravel from there.”
“You know what concerned me? I thought Tim was a little bit arrogant early on. I don’t think he earned the right to dominate in this fight,” said Porter.
Read also: A Look at Terence Crawford
The defeat against Murtazaliev could be a hard blow for Tszyu’s career. The challenges he will face to get back to the top are significant. Tim thought he had an easy one.
Tszyu's Road to Redemption
Tim Tszyu is looking to put himself back into the super-welterweight mix after suffering his first career defeat. The 29-year-old lost to Sebastian Fundora last time out after suffering a horrific gash on his forehead in a bruising back and forth battle. With the defeat the Aussie also lost control of his WBO tile and now has to build himself back into contention.
With Fundora expected to face Errol Spence Jr next, Tszyu had been linked to a fight against Vergil Ortiz Jr, who himself only just came through a fight of the year contender against Serhii Bohachuk, taking the interim WBC title on a controversial split decision.
But Ortiz is now the frontrunner to face the biggest name in the division, Terence Crawford. Crawford made his 154 debut earlier this month with a decision victory against WBA champion Israil Madrimov. Madrimov’s promoter Eddie Hearn described the scorecards- 16-112, 115-113 and 115-113 in Crawford’s favour - as ‘disrespectful’.
Speaking about the fight to Fight Hub TV, Tszyu scored it 8-4 to Crawford but warned the pound-for-pound star that ‘there are weight classes for a reason’. “Yeah [I scored it 8-4 to Crawford]. I thought both boys were tentative.
