.png)
In what promises to be a thrilling showdown, Tim Tszyu is gearing up to face Keith Thurman on March 30 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The highly anticipated fight will see Tszyu, the WBO super welterweight champion and second-generation star, take on Thurman, a former unified welterweight champion making his return to the ring after a lengthy layoff.
Ahead of the bout, Hall of Fame fighter Roy Jones Jr. has been singing high praises of Tszyu, likening him to his father, the legendary Kostya Tszyu. Jones expressed admiration for Thurman as well but questioned whether he could carry his punch up to the 154-pound weight class as effectively as he did at 147 pounds.
"I like Thurman. I think ‘One Time’ is a great fighter," Jones told Boxing Scene. "But I don't know if ‘One Time’ is going to carry 154 pounds as well as he carried 147. If he can carry his punch up, he's going to be a problem. But Tim Tszyu is a different animal. Tim Tszyu is something special. He reminds me a lot of his dad, Kostya Tszyu. His dad was always something special even before people knew who he was."
Jones recalled meeting Kostya Tszyu back in the 1986 Goodwill Games in Moscow and recognizing his potential.
"I knew then he was going to be something special. His son is also something special. You can't go up against Tim Tszyu and not bring your punch with you because Tim Tszyu is a problem already. So if Keith can bring his punch with him, then he has a good chance. We'll find out if Tim Tszyu can take a punch."
Tim Tszyu, with a record of 24-0 and 17 knockouts, had a standout 2023 campaign, scoring impressive victories against Tony Harrison and Carlos Ocampo and defending his WBO 154-pound title for the first time with a dominant decision win over Brian Mendoza.
"He's showing a lot of promise," Jones said of Tszyu. "He does a lot of beautiful things. He had an absolutely marvelous performance against Tony Harrison. I was surprised he beat him so easily. I was completely taken away by it. I don't know about pound-for-pound, but I do see Tim Tszyu being a top-5 to -10 fighter in his weight division."
On the other side, Thurman (30-1, 22 KOs), at 35 years old, will be looking to revive his career and make a statement in the super welterweight division.
With both fighters eager to prove themselves in this high-stakes matchup, fans can expect a thrilling contest that could potentially shape the landscape of the super welterweight division.