Boxing news: Jermall Charlo added to Tim Tszyu vs Errol Spence undercard, latest news and reaction

Tim Tszyu’s hyped July blockbuster against Errol Spence Jnr has taken a shock twist, with the American superstar’s team having successfully lobbied to have another unmistakable boxing name join the card.

Three years after Jermell Charlo famously walked away from a Las Vegas headliner against Tszyu, Fox Sports Australia can confirm the fighter’s twin brother Jermall is now set to join the Tszyu-Spence undercard.

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While no opponent has yet been announced, it’s understood an Australian fighter will be catapulted into what now becomes a huge co-main showdown.

On Friday morning, famed US trainer Ronnie Shields – who works with both Spence and Charlo – revealed talks were already underway with “the powers that be” about getting the undefeated two-division champ on the July 26 event.

The trainer added that promoters No Limit were already seeking out a suitable Australian opponent.

Speaking with The Punch Podcast on Friday, Shields stressed that while nothing had yet been signed off regarding Charlo (34-0), the former champ was keen to throw down against an Australian rival.

However, it’s understood the deal has now been signed off.

Given 36-year-old Charlo has campaigned at both middleweight and super middleweight recently, potential Aussies set to be named as the opponent include the likes of Michael Zerafa, Dylan Biggs, Koen Mazoudier, even undefeated young star Callum ‘50 Cal’ Peters.

Charlo is currently ranked at No.4 among WBA super middleweights, and No.6 with the WBC.

Apart from being a huge addition to the card, Charlo will also become a key training partner for Spence, who is expected to arrive into Australia at least two weeks before the headliner.

The fighter dubbed Hit Man will also add an intriguing new element to the event build given his twin brother’s long-running feud with Tszyu.

Shields was midway through an interview on Friday about all things Tszyu-Spence when he let slip that talks were already underway to have Charlo be part of the huge card, which will most likely take place in Sydney.

“Today I found out ‘Mal may be fighting on the card too,” Shields said. “It’s not 100 per cent just yet, but there is a possibility he will be fighting on the card.

“Definitely against an Australian. I don’t know yet [who], I just found out it’s a possibility and they’re looking for opponents now. They’re going to let me know if it can work out.”

Shields stressed money was not an issue for bringing Charlo out here, and added the fight was about getting him back into another world title shot – while also providing support for Spence’s comeback fight against Tszyu.

“And he’s been training really well for the last month,” the coach continued. “There was talk about him maybe going in August but, like I said, I’m trying to make a push to see if they can put him on in Australia.

“I haven’t talked to anybody [officially] yet. It’s just my thinking that maybe I can get him on that card.

“It’s my idea. It’s all on me. I just gotta talk to the powers that be.

“Because they’re telling me there is a possibility he can go in August, but for me it makes more sense to put him on in Australia against somebody from there.

“A lot would [still] have to happen. We would have to have the perfect opponent.

“And while he can’t make the money that he normally would make, we understand that. So we’ll have to wait and see if they even consider my idea.”

Shields added that having Charlo on the card would prove a huge asset for Spence’s preparations.

“Errol and Jermall are really good friends,” he continued in The Punch Podcast interview.

“They talk all the time. Hang out all the time. So it’s going to be a good deal. And if I can push the powers that be to do it, I think it will help Errol a lot. Jermall being there with him will be great.”

Only last month, Jermell Charlo said he was not only backing Tszyu to upset Spence in Australia, but would happily take on ‘The Phoenix’ immediately afterwards.

“I think Tim Tszyu wins that fight,” Charlo told The Last Stand Podcast.

“Watch the fight when he fought Tony Harrison and destroyed him. Styles make fights. I’m just being realistic.

“I’m not hating on nobody. I don’t care if he’s black, white or Mexican. I’m talking about stylistics … I’m saying that I see Tim Tszyu winning this fight, plain and simple.”

Then, Charlo wants in.

“I can go and knock him out after I knock out [Sebastian] Fundora — or we can do that fight first,” he said. “Whoever comes first is who we are going to go with.”

Charlo revealed his team is already exploring options across the division, with talks underway for bouts against Tszyu, Fundora or Spence.

“All of them three guys have agreed to fight me,” he said.

Tszyu, meanwhile, would also certainly welcome the fight, and confirmed to Fox Sports Australia recently that the pair have “unfinished business.”

The Aussie has also taken aim at Charlo’s performance against Alvarez, suggesting the former champ doesn’t fight with heart.

“I don’t really see that savage,” said Tszyu. “I’ve never really seen him as a savage.

“I’ve seen some world champions who are savage, you know? Beast mode. But I’ve never seen that in Charlo.”

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No Limit CEO George Rose has already said he would welcome the bout against Charlo after negotiating for it to take place twice before.

“Charlo’s been the long-standing king at 154, never lost in the division,” the promoter said last year. “That’s a fight which is long overdue for Tim.”

Way back in 2003, Jermell Charlo described the decision to give Tszyu his WBO super welterweight title as “f***ed up” – and branded the move as a show of favourtism.

The decision came after the American – who was then still undisputed super welterweight king – decided to brush a Tszyu fight for the second time in favour of a showdown with Canelo Alvarez.

Tszyu had initially been slated to challenge Charlo in January of that year, however the Texan cancelled after fracturing his left hand during a sparring session shortly before Christmas.

WBO executives then announced the champion would have to face Tszyu before September 30, however he instead opted to go up two weight classes and take the more lucrative Canelo fight.

Charlo was soundly beaten in the September, 2023 headliner and has not fought since.

Elsewhere, Shields also said he had been trying to make a fight between Jermall Charlo and Caleb Plant for six moths.

“But here’s the problem, the first couple of months he said ‘I don’t have a trainer … so I can’t take nothing without a trainer’,” Shields said of Plant. “So now it’s been six months and he still don’t have a trainer. So we just say forget Caleb Plant for now.”