Junior middleweight contender Tim Tszyu 19-0 (15) is looking for a new opponent after American former WBC champion Tony Harrison 26-3-1 (21) baulked at travelling to Australia.
The 26-year-old Tszyu is the mandatory challenger to WBO champion Brian Castano 17-0-2 (12). But with the Argentinean pursuing a rematch with WBC, WBA and IBF champion Jermell Charlo 34-1-1 (18) – who he boxed to a draw in San Antonio, Texas in July – it seems unlikely the undefeated Sydneysider will get his world title shot anytime soon.
Tszyu has always been an active fighter and after wiping out all of his major competition domestically the plan was always to face world-rated and well-credentialed international opponents.
Detroit’s Harrison, 31, defeated Charlo on points three years ago to claim the WBC belt before being stopped in the 11th round of another close contest against Charlo in December 2019.
More recently he was held to split draw by southpaw Bryant Perrella 17-3-1 (14) in Los Angeles in April.
Tszyu’s promoter George Rose of No Limit Boxing was confident they could convince Harrison to travel to Australia to face the eldest son of Hall of Famer Kostya Tszyu, but it wasn’t to be.
“We thought we had a deal!” Rose said to Fox Sports. “We’ve made a very significant offer for a former world champion in Tony Harrison to fight the man who is now mandatory for the world title, Tim Tszyu.
“We expected to see a signed contract this week but now Harrison is making very different noises. If he doesn’t want the fight and he won’t travel then that is unfortunate but we understand.”
Boxing journalist and broadcaster Ben Damon gave his take on the situation.
“It’s not exactly clear on why that has happened,” Damon told Fox Sports News on Friday.
“There’s a bit of speculation that maybe he’s had a good look at Tim Tszyu and realised it was maybe a bit of a harder fight than he thought.
“He’s decided there might be a better route for him back towards a title by staying in the United States.”
Damon added: “He’s a former world champion, you wouldn’t think he’d be scared of facing someone like Tszyu but having looked at him maybe he’s just decided there’s a better option just staying in America, waiting for an opportunity to come up there.”
Tsyzu in coming off an easy three round drubbing of late replacement Stevie Spark 12-2 (11) in Newcastle, Australia in July.
Spark, a natural 140-pounder, stepped in on the week of the fight after original opponent Michael Zerafa 28-4 (17) refused to travel from his hometown of Melbourne due to concerns over coronavirus restrictions.
The hunt is now on for a new opponent for Tszyu with the six-foot-six southpaw Sebastian Fundora 17-0-1 (12), former US Olympian Terrell Gausha 22-2-1 (11) and WBC number two Sergio Garcia 33-0 (14) all in the mix. Tszyu is ranked number three by the WBC.
Damon said he expects Gausha to present a tough test for Tszyu if that fight can be made.
“A really tough fight for Tszyu but he’s someone he appears to be interested in fighting,” he said.
“There’s been bit of talk that maybe he could find his way over to Australia as well.
“He would be a really, really tough test for Tim Tszyu as he heads towards a potential world title fight next year.”
