Tim Tszyu will not be participating on August 3rd against Vergil Ortiz Jr after deciding to withdraw from the scheduled bout; a decision prompted by medical advise and based on the cut injury he suffered against Fundora on March 30th. The two super welterweights were set to fight over the vacant World Boxing Association (WBA) interim title on the undercard of the Crawford-Madrimov event at the BMO Arena in Los Angeles, California.
Tim Tszyu (24-1, 17 KO’s) appears to have been too hasty in attempting to fight Vergil Ortiz Jr (21-0, 21 KO’s) on August 3rd, with the extent of his injury still too severe to see him compete roughly two months from now―according to Tszyu’s promoter George Rose of No Limit Boxing. While Tszyu had reportedly attended a pre-camp with decorated former undisputed champion and father Kostya Tszyu, Tim Tszyu seems to have withdrawn from the match after medical advice from professionals. Rose also revealed Tszyu a part of why Tszyu withdrew was due to “his body telling him he wasn’t ready”, suggesting the Australian former world champion was experiencing some issues with his head wound.
Vergil Ortiz Jr will likely be in search of a new opponent; which is not expected to be too much of a hassle with the two months remaining giving enough time for another fighter to step in and properly prepare himself. While plenty of 154 lbs contenders can substitute Tszyu come August 3rd, the most viable opponents will presumably be picked from the WBA’s 154 lbs rankings to ensure the WBA interim title will be made available..
American contender Erickson Lubin (26-2, 18 KO’s) might potentially step up to face Ortiz given his #3-ranked position with the WBA. With Ortiz currently occupying the #1 spot on the WBA’s super ranking boards, and #2-ranked German contender Abass Baraou (15-1, 9 KO’s) set to compete in two weeks’ time, Lubin has become a top candidate to replace Tszyu on August 3rd.
A return for Tszyu still has to be determined by No Limit Boxing but there is a possibility the Australian will return to the ring this year. However, it will very much be a question of who he will fight once he does make a full recovery, with a previous promise by Sebastian Fundora’s (21-1-1, 13 KO’s) manager to honor a rematch with Tszyu not expected to be upheld after the recent rumors of Errol Spence Jr (28-1, 22 KO’s) facing Fundora instead.
