Australia’s Tim Tszyu has turned his attention towards some of the super welterweight division’s biggest names – and potentially American welterweight king Terence Crawford – after his next expected title challenger Erickson Lubin withdrew from negotiations today.
While Lubin has long been considered the clubhouse leader for Tszyu’s next WBO super welterweight title defence, which is slated for the world’s fight capital in late March, Fox Sports Australia can reveal the 28-year-old is no longer in discussions.
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Main Event’s Ben Damon was the first to tweet the development, with a source close to negotiations confirming Tszyu was now moving on from Lubin.
Intriguingly, the announcement comes only days after Crawford’s trainer Bernie Davis declared Australia’s undefeated champion the “most attractive” option for his fighter next up.
Davis said Tszyu was the “right one” thanks to a “spectacular” trio of wins in 2023 — defeating Tony Harrison, Carlos Ocampo and Brian Mendoza.
Elsewhere, undefeated US prospect Vergil Ortiz Jnr has also called out Tszyu this month, with his legendary promoter Oscar De La Hoya even suggesting a willingness to make the fight in Australia.
Given his incredible rise to world champion this past year, Team Tszyu are expected, in the next 24 hours, to be inundated with a host of ranked fighters wanting a chance to face the Aussie in Las Vegas come March.
But as for who the opponent will now be?
Already, Tszyu has named Crawford on a ‘John Wick’-style hitlist that also includes fellow superstars Jermell Charlo, Canelo Alvarez and Errol Spence Jnr.
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Initially, boxing’s pound-for-pound king seemed headed for a rematch with Spence Jnr, however the latter has since required cataract surgery, scuppering those plans.
There have also been calls for welterweight king Crawford to have a unification bout against IBF champion Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis, or even face Charlo.
Yet speaking on MillCity Boxing, Davis revealed it was Tszyu who was the new clubhouse leader for Crawford’s next fight – ahead of even Ennis, Devin Haney, Teofimo Lopez and Charlo, whose immediate future is also unknown given he is facing assault charges.
The trainer said his champion, who is keen to face Canelo next, would consider chasing history by moving up to claim gold in a fourth weight class.
“I think Tszyu will be the right one since we can’t get (Errol) Spence,” Davis said.
“We want to move up and make history, have something to get up for.
“And even though ‘Boots’ is an attractive option, I think Tszyu just edges him a little bit.
“I think Tszyu has fought the better competition, I think he’s been looking more spectacular in his fights and he got the country [Australia] behind him.
“Plus, he has something that we want.
“It’s another weight class to jump and it’s another something to aspire to.
“So that’s where I would think we would land.”
Asked if the fight would be held in America or Australia, where it could easily be a blockbuster stadium show, Davis added: “It’s a big fight wherever”.
Meanwhile, and after spending almost 18 months away from the ring due to various health issues, Ortiz also wants Tszyu after returning to the ring in stunning fashion earlier this month – scoring a first round TKO over Frederick Lawson.
The win was the 20th straight finish for the devastating 25-year-old who De La Hoya dubbed afterwards as “the best fighter on the planet”.
And now he wants to move up a division to challenge Tszyu.
“Bro there’s a lot of fighters that I want to fight and I know people would love people to see this fight so Tim Tszyu, with all respect, I would love to fight you,” Ortiz said after his win.
“I think you’re a hell of a fighter, let’s make it happen.
“It’s all business.
“I want to fight the best.”
De La Hoya agreed, adding: “Tim Tszyu, anybody at 154 … Ortiz will even go to Australia and do it.
“Whatever Team Vergil wants we’ll make happen.
“We’re behind him a thousand per cent.
“Vergil is a fighter.
“One of those old school thinking fighters who, to be the best you have to beat the best.
“To be world champion, you travel the world.
“I think Vergil, right now, is the best fighter on the planet … at 154, at any weight class.
“And I strongly feel everyone is going to be searching for Vergil.
“And guess what? He’s right here.
“He made a statement … 20-0, 20 knockouts, who else has that?
“He’s the only fighter who is undefeated with 20 fights and 20 knockouts, that’s incredible.”
Unsurprisingly, Tszyu was quick to accept the challenge.
After the call out, the Sydneysider responded almost immediately, tweeting on X: “Yo @VergilOrtiz Welcome to the “54 club. I’m always keen for a modern day classic”.