FORMER unified super-welterweight world champion Tim Tszyu will return to the ring on September 22 in Australia.
The 29-year-old has been out of motion since his defeat to Sebastian Fundora on March 30 on the T-Cellular Enviornment, Las Vegas. Fundora, who was set to face Serhii Bohachuk on the undercard for the vacant 154lb WBC strap, stepped in to exchange Tszyu’s unique opponent Keith Thurman who withdrew due to an harm.
With lower than two weeks’ discover Fundora nonetheless managed to drag off the upset profitable the WBC and WBO world titles by cut up choice. The loss for Tszyu was made worse by the horrible lower he acquired within the second spherical after making contact with Fundora’s elbow. Tszyu’s crimson masks hindered him all through and the harm prevented his extremely anticipated August 3 showdown towards Vergil Ortiz Jr in Los Angeles.
Tszyu can now discover a method again into world title rivalry along with his September 22 comeback doubling up as an IBF eliminator. Russian Bakhram Murtazaliev is the present IBF super-welterweight world champion having gained the vacant strap by eleventh spherical knockout in April towards Jack Culcay.
The one factor lacking from Tszyu’s September date is an opponent. Nevertheless, FOX Sports activities Australia boxing commentator Ben Damon posted on X that discussions are ongoing for Tszyu to face American Erickson Lubin. Within the present IBF world rankings Lubin and Tszyu are the 2 highest ranked contenders at quantity three and 4 with the highest two positions vacant.
Lubin, 28, bounced again from his personal defeat to Fundora in 2022 by recording two wins in 2023 towards Luis Arias and final trip towards Jesus Alejandro Ramos Jr, respectively.
