Tim Tszyu would have been totally outclassed had his undisputed world title fight with Jermell Charlo gone ahead, says the only man to have defeated the cocky American.

Tszyu is scheduled to fight Tony Harrison in Sydney on March 12, the winner earning the right to take on Charlo for his WBA, IBF, WBC and WBO belts. The Australian was scheduled to fight Charlo in January, but a hand injury to the champion scuppered the bout.

Rather than wait for Charlo to recover, Tszyu will take on Harrison, another big name in the super-welterweight division, for the interim WBO title.

Former world champion Harrison inflicted the only defeat on Charlo, who avenged that loss in a rematch 12 months later. At a press conference confirming Qudos Bank Arena as the venue, Harrison threw bouquets and brickbats at Tszyu when appearing via video link from the United States. The Detroit product’s most cutting remark came when asked who would win a Tszyu-Charlo bout.

“Charlo, easy,” Harrison said.

“That match-up was fan-friendly. Charlo will be coming off fighting [Brian] Castano twice in a row, [and] Tim has the exact same style of Castano, coming forward.

“They are both tough, they are both aggressive, they both throw tonnes of punches, they both line up the same on the height scale and the reach scale. I just thought Charlo had fought Castano twice. It would have been [like] fighting Castano a third time.

“Charlo would have won easy.”