Tim Tszyu Wants Jermell Charlo Next After Retiring Errol Spence Jr

Tim Tszyu has a name in mind, and it isn't the one everyone assumed. Four weeks after grinding out a unanimous-decision win over Errol Spence Jr in New South Wales — a result that pushed the former unified welterweight champion into retirement — the Australian has publicly earmarked Jermell Charlo as his next opponent.

The moment came at a fan meet-up, where Tszyu crossed Spence's name off a physical 'hit list' and jabbed a finger at Charlo's, declaring he's next. It's a callback with real history: the two were booked to fight back in January 2023 before Charlo broke his hand in camp and the bout collapsed. Charlo confirmed last week that they're now hunting for a location to finally make it happen.

The Division Nobody Was Watching

Middleweight was supposed to be a graveyard. Instead it's suddenly loaded, with Tszyu and Spence both climbing from 154 for their clash and more names circling the 160lb scene. That win in front of a home crowd was Tszyu's career best, and it doubled as the debut of Aussie legend Jeff Fenech as his lead trainer — a partnership that paid off immediately.

Here's the wrinkle. Before Charlo entered the frame, Tszyu had floated a run at two-weight glory by calling out WBA middleweight champion Erislandy Lara, with a December date reportedly being kicked around. Lara, 32-3-3 (19 KO), is coming off a unanimous-decision win over Johan Gonzalez and represents the actual belt Tszyu would need to lift to become a two-division world champion.

Charlo's Other Option

The complication is that Charlo isn't sitting on his hands waiting for Tszyu. He's also being linked to Vergil Ortiz Jr, another rising star preparing his own jump up to middleweight. So while both men seem keen to settle old business, there's a live threat that one of them gets pulled elsewhere before pen meets paper.

For now, Tszyu has options and momentum — a rare combination. He can chase the Lara belt and go straight for a title in a second weight class, or he can finally close the loop on the Charlo fight that got away three years ago. His body language at that fan event suggests where his heart is. Whether the contracts follow is another matter entirely.