Tim Tszyu will finally return to action.
The former WBO junior middleweight titlist will fight on September 22, No Limit Boxing announced Thursday. Neither the venue nor hosting city were specified, other than that it would land in his home country of Australia.
The updated was provided just as the IBF ordered a final eliminator between Tszyu (24-1, 17 KOs) and Erickson Lubin (26-2, 18 KOs). The two sides have until July 30 to reach a deal. The winner will face IBF world titleholder Bakhram Murtazaliev (22-0, 16 KOs).
Tszyu is rated No. 2 at 154 by The Ring; Lubin is No. 5.
According to Tszyu and No Limit, Lubin is not committed to traveling to Australia.
“A lot of people talk the talk, but when it’s up to getting it done, they go the other way running,” Tszyu told The Australian newspaper. “We’re the two main boys in the division in the IBF, so I hope we can get it on. Let’s see if he accepts.
“It’s real simple. I just want to fight. I want to get it on.”
No Limit Boxing CEO George Rose hopes Lubin is eventually convinced to travel to Australia to face Tszyu.
“There’s no hesitation from our side,” Rose also told The Australian. “We want the fight and Tim wants the fight, but it’s a scary fight for Lubin. You’re up against the uncrowned king of the 154-pound division.
“To be able to convince anybody to fight Tim, it costs a bit extra and he’s in that seven-figure stratosphere. That’s where Tim is now. It’s a very costly process when you’re at this level and fighting the quality of opponents Tim is.”
Lubin has not yet publicly commented on the matter.
Tszyu, who resides in the Sydney suburb of Rockdale, last fought on March 30 in Las Vegas. It marked his first defeat and the end of his title reign, as he lost to Sebastian Fundora by split decision. Tszyu was originally due to face former unified welterweight titlist Keith Thurman, who withdrew due to injury.
The fight began strong for Tszyu before it quickly went south. The second-generation boxer suffered a cut just below his hairline when his head collided with Fundora’s elbow. His face was masked in blood for more than ten rounds as a result.
Fundora (21-1-1, 13 KOs), No. 1 at 154, won the WBO title and the vacant WBC world junior middleweight title.
The cut caused further issues for Tszyu beyond the night of his lone defeat. He was in plans to face Vergil Ortiz, Jr. on the Riyadh Season card on August 3 at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles. However, he was not medically cleared in time to commit to the show.
Lubin (26-2, 18 KOs), an Orlando native who trains in South Florida, defeated previously-unbeaten Jesus Ramos by unanimous decision on September 30. It was the second consecutive win for the 28-year-old contender since an April 2022 stoppage loss to Fundora in their Fight of the Year candidate.
Interestingly, Ramos (21-1, 17 KOs), The Ring’s No. 6-rated junior middleweight, is also being considered as an opponent for Tszyu, should Lubin not accept. The 23-year-old from Casa Grande, Arizona stopped Johan Gonzalez in the ninth round on May 4 in Las Vegas.
Francisco A. Salazar has written for The Ring since October 2013 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (California) Star newspaper. He can be reached at santio89@yahoo.com
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