BY JAKE DONOVAN
January 22, 2023
Source: Boxing Scene
Photo Source: Boxing Scene
The only common ground that Tim Tszyu and Erickson ‘Hammer’ Lubin can find is that they are no longer on course to face each other.
Plans have collapsed for the WBO junior middleweight title fight that was targeted for March, though both sides have varying takes over what went south. The media in Tszyu’s Australia homeland ran with the story that Lubin withdrew from talks to face the unbeaten second-generation titlist. Tszyu’s team confirmed to BoxingScene.com that the American contender was officially out.
That version of the truth doesn’t quite sit well with the other side, who was never presented with an offer of any kind.
“Wait what,” Lubin questioned along with three “cap” emojis to suggest news of his withdrawal was false. “This is news to me. I was waiting on the date.”
Tszyu-Lubin was previously floated as a potential headliner for the inaugural edition of the forthcoming Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on Amazon Prime series.
Sydney’s Tszyu (24-0, 17KOs) was upgraded to full WBO titlist from his previous interim title and aimed to make the second defense of the belt this spring.
Lubin (26-2, 18KOs) put himself back in contention with a twelve-round, unanimous decision over previously unbeaten Jesus Ramos last September 30 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The 28-year-old southpaw from Orlando, Florida won two fights in 2023 to bounce back from a heartbreaking ninth-round stoppage at the hands of Sebastian Fundora in their Fight of the Year-level April 2022 slugfest also in Vegas.
The win over Ramos came in a WBA semifinal title eliminator. However, Lubin is currently ranked in the top five of all the major sanctioning bodies, including number-two with the WBO. A fight with Tszyu would have marked his second shot at a major title; he’s won eight of his last nine bouts since a first-round knockout defeat to then-unbeaten WBC junior middleweight titlist Jermell Charlo in October 2017.
Now, both boxers appear to be on separate courses—not a chosen path by Lubin’s team. In fact, their question is how they could turn down a fight that was never formally put in front of them.
“The truth is, we haven’t bfieen contacted by anyone regarding Hammer’s next fight,” Kevin Cunningham, Lubin’s head trainer, told BoxingScene.com, echoing his challenge of Australian media who ran with Tszyu’s side of the story Monday morning. “There hasn’t been any discussion of a date or opponent.”
Tszyu has suggested to local media that he would welcome the challenge of undisputed welterweight champion Terence ‘Bud’ Crawford (40-0, 31KOs). Such a fight could trump a mandatory title defense should the WBO opt to order one. Crawford holds ‘Super’ Champion status with the sanctioning body, which affords him the luxury to demand an immediate title shot above or below his current weight should he choose to pursue that option.
England’s Josh Kelly (15-1-1, 8KOs)—a member of the 2016 Great Britain Olympic boxing team—is currently the number-one ranked WBO junior middleweight contender.
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