THE CEO of Floyd Mayweather’s promotional company has criticised Team Tszyu for talking up a potential Terence Crawford super fight — branding it “a no no” — while also warning his rival this Sunday “ain’t no chump”.
Speaking with Fox Sports Australia in Las Vegas this week, Mayweather Promotions boss Leonard Ellerbe also suggested Tszyu could not beat Crawford and was even in a “50/50” against Sebastian Fundora.
Arriving Stateside to plenty of fanfare, Tszyu enters the biggest test of his undefeated career this Sunday when he challenges Fundora for both the WBO and WBC super welterweight straps inside T Mobile Arena.
Should the Sydneysider win, there has already been plenty of talk suggesting he will be catapulted into a huge blockbuster with American superstar Terence Crawford.
That talk, however, has angered Fundora’s camp, who are now vowing to override an agreement that suggested, should they win, the rematch would be held in Australia.
Fundora’s agent Sampson Lewkowicz — who Tszyu branded “a weasel” — even suggested he may make the 29-year-old fight somebody else before challenging his client, should the Aussie lose this Sunday.
Asked about the ongoing drama this week, the man who oversees a promotional company that has netted over $500 million – and generated $1.5 billion in pay-per-view revenue – warned Tszyu was “putting himself in a box” with the Crawford talk.
Don’t miss Tim Tszyu in a unified World Title fight this Sunday against 6-foot 6 Towering Inferno Sebastian Fundora. Plus catch fellow Aussie Michael Zerafa taking on Erislandy Lara for his shot to become the Middle Weight World Champion LIVE from Las Vegas | SUN 31 MAR 11AM AEDT | Exclusive to Main Event, order on Kayo Sports. No Kayo subscription needed.
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“I think that’s a ‘no no’,” Ellerbe said.
“Those things should just happen.
“You should have those sorts of conversations after you perform.
“Because he (Tszyu) is putting himself in a box.
“This whole process of thinking Fundora is a chump, I’m not buying it.
“He ain’t no chump … he’s coming to fight.”
Asked how a fight between Tszyu and Crawford plays out, Ellerbe continued: “Tszyu can’t beat Crawford.
“He’s a good fighter but I know what Crawford brings to the table.
“He’s elite.
“But let’s just see how Tim Tszyu goes this weekend.
“Come ask me that same question after the fight.”
Only last month, Ellerbe made headlines after describing the 8/1 odds against Tszyu’s original opponent Keith Thurman, who has since withdrawn with a biceps injury, as “disrespectful”.
The Mayweather Promotions CEO also picked Thurman to win the bout.
“The most disrespectful thing out there I saw this morning, I was looking at the odds and was like, Tszyu’s an eight-to-one favourite?” Ellerbe said to Fight Hub TV.
“(I thought) There’s got to be a mistake.
“I’m like, ‘Is this a typo or something?’
“Because no way in hell is this guy an 8-1 favourite over Keith Thurman.”
Then of Tszyu, he added: “That’s not Floyd Mayweather, you know what I mean?”
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So as for Ellerbe’s thoughts now on Tszyu versus Fundora?
“I think it’s a 50/50 fight,” he said.
“Stylistically, Fundora is very difficult.
“And it’s going to be hard for Tszyu to figure him out.
“You’re not just gunna walk in there and run him out of the ring. That’s not going to happen.
“So Tszyu has his work cut out for him.”
And as for how Tszyu goes mainstream Stateside?
“We are really going to find out what he’s all about this weekend,” the chief executive said.
“There’s been a lot of hype around Tim Tszyu.
“And I do think he’s an excellent fighter.
“He also has a great manager in Glen (Jennings) and a tremendous team who have been moving him really well.
“And now we’re going to see what he’s all about this weekend.
“Right now, he isn’t well known in the United States but he has a big opportunity this weekend.
“He has to show the fans around the world what he’s all about.
“And the way you do that is by going in there and taking care of business in impressive fashion.
“But if he trips up … well, then we’re going to be talking about something different.”
Source Agencies
