WBO light-middleweight world champion Tim Tszyu still wants to box and defend his title again in March, but it won’t be against Erickson Lubin after reports claimed negotiations reportedly broke down between them – though the latter was unaware when addressing the news on social media.
Tszyu back soon, but not against Lubin
- Tim Tszyu (24-0, 17 KOs) successfully defended his WBO world title vs. Brian Mendoza on October 15 after being upgraded to full champion as Jermell Charlo went up two weight divisions to box Canelo Álvarez
- Confusion at play: “The truth is, we haven’t been contacted by anyone regarding Hammer’s next fight. There hasn’t been any discussion of a date or opponent,” Lubin’s head trainer Kevin Cunningham told BoxingScene
- Tszyu-Lubin was reportedly the frontrunner to headline PBC’s inaugural show on Amazon Prime, having just signed a multiyear rights deal with the streaming outlet but now they’ll need a new main event plan
Tim Tszyu’s handlers are now focusing their attention onto bigger and more expensive names hovering around the light-middleweight division, after talks with prospective opponent Erickson Lubin (26-2, 18 KOs) broke down.
Undisputed welterweight champion Terence Crawford, who has already outlined a desire to become undisputed in a third weight class, is naturally top of the Australian’s list – though Bud has a contractual rematch to satisfy against former unified titlist Errol Spence Jr and you’d assume he needed to do the latter first.
Australian media reported Lubin had withdrawn from talks but didn’t specify the reason for it, though Tszyu’s team have since confirmed the same.
It was an anticlimactic finish against Fredrick Lawson after a long-awaited return for Vergil Ortiz Jr earlier this month, though the 25-year-old contender hopes his health concerns are behind him and he can campaign at 154lbs going forward.
Previously highly-ranked across all four sanctioning bodies at welterweight, he too wants to challenge himself against the best and said post-fight that he was open to testing his mettle in a potential Tim Tszyu showdown.
Oscar de la Hoya, his promoter, added the rising star was happy and willing to venture abroad for what would mark as a maiden world title opportunity.
Crawford holds super champion status with the WBO, meaning he can demand an immediate title shot one class above or below his existing weight if he decides to.
Both he and Ortiz Jr have made clear their openness to travel to Australia, acting as a potential sweetener in fight negotiations. However as I wrote two-and-a-half weeks ago after Ortiz’s comeback fight, the situation is fluid.
Tszyu had made it clear the Brian Mendoza matchup would be his last in Australia, having previously outlined a desire to conquer the boxing world Stateside before his Jermell Charlo world title fight was postponed indefinitely twelve months ago.
He currently trains out of the Split T boxing gym in Las Vegas and did so during the most intense period of fight camp before facing Sebastian Fundora’s conqueror on October 15, so will probably want another world title defence booked around March.
Josh Kelly is ranked #1 by the sanctioning body but Wasserman will likely push him into pursuing domestic fights instead, as another defeat – three years after European champion David Avanesyan stopped him at 147lbs – could be disastrous.
It’ll be interesting to see who the Aussie tests himself against next, assuming Ortiz is saved for a later date while things can marinate a little given his comeback.
Picture source: Getty Images
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