Tszyu set for Sept. 22 return, IBF orders Lubin final eliminator
Erickson Lubin previously withdrew from negotiations to challenge Tim Tszyu for the WBO super welterweight title
No Limits Boxing announced yesterday that former super welterweight champion Tim Tszyu will return to the ring in a September 22nd IBF eliminator. Shortly thereafter, the sanctioning body formally ordered him to face Erickson Lubin.
Tszyu (24-1, 17 KO) accepted a short-notice fight with Sebastian Fundora in March after Keith Thurman predictably went down to injury, but his boldness backfired when a stray elbow opened him up in the second rind and left him struggling to fight through a gruesome amount of blood. Tszyu ultimately lost a split decision and was forced out of a lucrative August showdown with Vergil Ortiz Jr, leaving him eager to squeeze both this eliminator and a subsequent shot at Bakhram Murtazaliev into the next five months.
No Limit CEO George Rose claims Lubin (26-2, 18 KO), who withdrew from a potential title bout with Tszyu this past January, “still needs convincing to travel to Australia.” “The Hammer” hasn’t seen action since taking a highly questionable decision over Jesus Ramos last September in his second fight since getting mauled by the aforementioned Fundora.
Lubin is no. 3 with the IBF and Tszyu no. 4 behind empty slots at no. 1 and no. 2. Josh Kelly, Ramos, Xander Zayas, Callum Walsh, and Slawa Sporner are next in line should Lubin decline.