Australian News Today

Tim Tszyu in talks to return to ring within months on Terence Crawford card

Tim Tszyu in talks to return to ring within months on Terence Crawford card

Australia’s Tim Tszyu is in discussions to face Vergil Ortiz Jnr this August — and on the same card as the US superstar he eventually plans to dethrone, Terence Crawford.

ESPN was the first to report on Wednesday morning that talks are underway for a fight between Tszyu and Ortiz Jr. in Los Angeles this August.

The fight will be part of the stacked Terence Crawford-Israil Madrimov undercard — joining the previously reported Issac Cruz-Jose Valenzuela junior welterweight title fight and Andy Ruiz-Jarrell Miller heavyweight bout on the undercard.

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For the Tszyu bout to take place however, Ortiz must first win this weekend’s fight against Thomas Dulorme — and emerge uninjured.

ESPN’s Mike Coppinger suggested Tszyu-Ortiz shapes up as “one of the best action matchups in all of boxing, a 154-pound bout between two of the sport’s most entertaining fighters”.

The news comes less than 24 hours after Fox Sports Australiaconfirmed Tszyu would likely be squeezed out of another world title shot until some time in 2025 after the WBO announced Crawford could be next in line for their super welterweight crown.

WBO executives released a statement early Tuesday stating it will sanction Crawford’s planned August bout against WBA champ Madrimov as a WBO interim title fight.

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The winner of that fight would then face Sebastian Fundora, who is currently sidelined after suffering a broken nose in his bloody upset win over Tszyu in Las Vegas.

If that all takes place, it means Tszyu’s hyped rematch against Fundora – which both parties have already agreed on – would disappear.

Ironically, it now looks like his opportunity will instead come on the undercard of that Crawford headliner,

The news comes as Tszyu’s undefeated younger brother Nikita prepares to defend his Australian super welterweight title against now Sydney-based Italian Danilo Creati at the Hordern Pavilion tonight.