WBO junior middleweight champion Tim Tszyu 24-0 (17) is still planning on making his Las Vegas debut, but it will no longer happen on the first weekend in March.
Tszyu’s promoter No Limit had been planning to have their star charge headline a show in Las Vegas coinciding with the National Rugby League’s pair of season opening games in the gambling capital of the world on March 2.
That date has now been scratched but Tszyu is still hopefully of fighting in Las Vegas later in the month. The name in the frame remains former world title challenger Erickson ‘The Hammer’ Lubin 26-2 (18).
“We’re still heading towards (fighting in Las Vegas), we’re just in the waiting game,” the 29-year-old Australian said to the Herald Sun. “Sometime in March would be ideal, but the longer it gets, the more we have to take it into our hands and make the fight happen here. I’m not the type to wait around for opportunities.
“He (Lubin) is the next name on the list and he’s number two on Boxrec, so if it makes sense, it makes sense.”
Tszyu has long coveted a shot at former undisputed 154-pound champion Jermell Charlo 35-2-1 (19) but as things stand, he doesn’t see that fight coming to fruition any time soon. Back in September Charlo jumped up two weight classes to unsuccessfully challenge Mexican superstar Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez 60-2-2 (39) for his WBC, WBA, WBO, IBF and Ring Magazine super middleweight titles.
“Charlo, he doesn’t fight. He doesn’t answer the phone,” Tszyu said. “Charlo’s finished, I reckon he’s done. I was pursuing that fight, but from my understanding, I don’t see much hunger from him to fight.”
One boxer who would answer the phone is Vergil Ortiz Jr 20-0 (20). The 25-year-old Texan returned from an injury-induced 17-month layoff with a first-round blowout of Fredrick Lawson 30-4 (22) in Las Vegas on January 6.
After the fight Ortiz Jr called for a bout against Tszyu.
“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 Jr said after his recent victory.
“I think you’re a hell of a fighter, let’s make it happen. It’s all business. I want to fight the best.”
Ortiz Jr’s promoter Oscar De La Hoya said he was willing to explore a potential Tszyu bout for his fighter.
“Tim Tszyu, anybody at 154. Ortiz will even go to Australia and do it,” the Golden Boy Promotions boss said. “I’ve got to do my homework and see who Tim’s promoter is, see what the situation is.
“We’ll take it from there. Whatever Team Vergil wants, we’ll make happen. We’re behind him a thousand percent. 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.”
Ortiz Jr’s position was welcomed by Tszyu.
“There is only one man – me,” Tszyu said. “I’m number one and he (Ortiz) knows that. The respect from Vergil is here and it’s mutual. I’m willing to fight him anywhere – Australia, America – wherever the fans want it.”
