Former WBO light-middleweight world champion Tim Tszyu expects to make his return down under on September 22, as the 29-year-old targets erasing the sour taste in his mouth after a contentious majority decision defeat by Sebastian Fundora in March. Erickson Lubin was targeted before news of an injury this week, though there’ll assess options for an alternative in two months’ time.
Tszyu-Lubin again on ice, Aussie awaits new plans
REPORTS today reveal that purse bids for a proposed fight between former WBO light-middleweight champion Tim Tszyu and one-time title challenger Erickson Lubin have been cancelled, meaning an intriguing showdown between the pair has now twice fallen through in less than twelve months as clarity at 154lbs is sought.
Lubin’s reps informed the IBF their charge wouldn’t be medically fit to box given the timeline, in what would’ve been a final eliminator for a belt held by new champion Bakhram Murtazaliev. The 28-year-old will have not boxed for a full calendar year, outpointing unbeaten contender Jesus Alejandro Ramos Jr on Sept. 30 last year.
Tszyu and his promotional team No Limit Boxing were hopeful they could set up another Australian homecoming for their boxing star on Sept. 22 and while that date remains the target, they’re awaiting next steps from the sanctioning body for options.
As I reported last year, a Tszyu-Lubin matchup was in the pipeline before things went cold from the latter and instead, durable longtime contender Brian Mendoza stepped up to the breach though suffered a UD12 defeat on the Gold Coast.
Russia’s 22-0 boxer Murtazaliev scored a 11th-round knockout win over Germany’s Jack Culcay on April 6 to clinch vacant honours after former undisputed titleholder Jermell Charlo was belatedly stripped when moving up two weight divisions to unsuccessfully challenge Canelo Álvarez at super-middleweight last September.
Charlo, who scored a late stoppage win over Brian Castano in their rematch to win undisputed titles at 154lbs, has hinted at returning after proposed matchups against Terence Crawford and Tszyu similarly went cold following his broken wrist injury.
Former British and current WBO International champion Josh Kelly is #5 with the sanctioning body, but set to face Liam Smith in a middleweight clash on September 21 – it’s unclear whether he’ll stay at the weight or move back down to 154lbs.
Arizona southpaw Ramos (#6) returned with a R9 TKO win over Johan Gonzalez on the Canelo-Munguia undercard in early May and is a suitable candidate, likewise Germany’s unbeaten contender Slawa Spomer (#7). We’ll have to wait and see.
Picture source: Getty Images
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