Tim Tszyu Seeks New Opponent In September 22nd IBF Title Decider In Australia; Lubin Out
A homecoming awaits Tim Tszyu.
However, there is still work ahead to protect the opponent.
The Ring has learned that Erickson Lubin's representatives have removed the American contender from the IBF title elimination program. Tszyu and Lubin were previously ordered to enter into negotiations but it was arranged that they would apply for the fund when the two sides reached an impasse.
That time is no longer playing. The IBF has received confirmation that Lubin is not medically fit to continue during the IBF deadline.
Tszyu (24-1, 17 KOs) currently has September 22nd set for his next fight. A host city or venue in Australia has yet to be confirmed for The Ring's No. 2-rated junior middleweight will fight where.
Dan Rafael of Fight Freaks Unite was the first to report the development.
According to IBF rules, Tszyu will now have to negotiate with the best available fighter. England's Josh Kelly (15-1-1, 8 KOs) is ranked one spot below Lubin but has committed to a fight, in fact that weekend. The 2016 Great Britain Olympian will face former number one Liam Smith (33-4-1, 20 KOs), No. 7 at 160, September 21 in London.
Jesus Ramos (21-1, 17 KOs), The Ring's No. 6-rated junior middleweight, will be next in line after that.
Tszyu, Lubin and Ramos are all represented by Premier Boxing Champions (PBC).
Ramos was always a backup plan in case Lubin couldn't commit to a fight. The 23-year-old fighter from Casa Grande, Arizona dropped a controversial decision to Lubin last September 30 in Las Vegas. He has since picked up a ninth-round knockout of Johan Gonzalez on May 4 in Las Vegas. Both fights took place on the undercard of Pay-Per-View events headlined by Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez.
Tszyu hasn't fought since a gory, twelve-round loss to Sebastian Fundora (21-1-1, 13 KOs), No. 1 for 154, March 30 in Las Vegas. The defeat ended Tszyu's perfect record and WBO title reign. Fundora also captured the vacant WBC middleweight title that night. Both fighters were so physically injured that they had to cancel previous plans made in late spring.
Fundora's nose was blown off in the opening round, and Tszyu was badly cut in the middle of his head. Tszyu's wound failed to heal in time to receive medical clearance for a fight scheduled for August 3 against Vergil Ortiz (21-0, 21 KOs) in Los Angeles.
Meanwhile, Fundora had to comply with a medical certificate notice to avoid being stripped of his WBO title. He is scheduled to face Terence 'Bud' Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs), who will challenge Israel Madrimov (10-0-1, 7 KOs) for the WBA and WBO interim titles on the August 3 LA show.
Tszyu chose the IBF route when he heard that Fundora would be targeted for a possible WBC title defense against Errol Spence Jr. (28-1, 22 KOs). The fight has not been officially announced but is rumored to take place later this fall.
The eventual winner of the IBF will challenge Bakhram Murtazaliev (22-0, 16 KOs), who is number 10 at 154. It's not clear why Tszyu can't go head-to-head with Murtazaliev, who currently doesn't. to protect the organized subject.
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