A few weeks ago, Erickson Lubin backed out of negotiations for the highly anticipated clash with WBO 154-pound champion Tim Tszyu. This left Tszyu, known for his unbeaten record and thrilling performances, in need of a new opponent. While talks of a potential bout with Terence Crawford circulated, Vergil Ortiz Jr., now competing at 154, had also eagerly thrown himself into the mix. So much so that even the Golden Boy head Oscar De La Hoya has not only confirmed Ortiz’s readiness but also mentioned a willingness to travel to Australia for the bout.

However, Tszyu has finalized an opponent for himself and he’ll be taking on the former world champion Keith Thurman on March 31st. Despite being the reigning WBO junior middleweight champion, Tszyu’s upcoming bout faced a setback as the WBO chose not to sanction the fight. Consequently, the match will proceed at a 155-pound catchweight, with the title not up for contention supposedly because this is the first time Thurman will be competing at the 154, and he hasn’t won any bout in the last two years. However, this situation has been pointed out by Lubin.

Erickson Lubin demands action to be taken against Tim Tszyu

Tim Tszyu successfully defended his full WBO super welterweight title in a grueling encounter against Brian Mendoza on the Gold Coast. The 12-round battle showcased Tszyu’s unwavering determination, ultimately securing a unanimous decision victory on all three judges’ scorecards. Now he’s taking the next challenge and has been scheduled to square off against Thurman.

However, his rival Erickson Lubin believes that he’s taking an easy way out. Tszyu should be stripped of his belt since he won’t be defending it  and instead, he should be allowed to fight for the vacant title. He said, “Tszyu not defending his belt @WorldBoxingOrg strip his a** make him the “champ in recess” I don’t mind fighting Josh Kelly or Xander Zayas for it.”

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However, even when Lubin had the chance to challenge a world titlist, why did he pull out from the fight? Well, the reasons are unknown. But it wasn’t really a surprise for Tim Tszyu.

Tszyu expected this from Lubin

Erickson Lubin has proven himself as one of the top contenders in the 154-pound division. Despite a somewhat controversial victory over Jesus Ramos Jr. a few months ago, Lubin’s skill set has solidified his standing among the elite in his weight class. Following the win, discussions allegedly took place between Lubin’s camp and Tim Tszyu’s team. However, for reasons not entirely clear, the negotiations hit a snag.

“We Were in Negotiations to Fight”: Tim Tszyu Claims Terence Crawford Fight Is Possible in Future

Tszyu wasn’t caught off guard by the turn of events; in fact, he anticipated the breakdown in talks. He said, “It’s typical you know. They start getting cold feet so what do I do? The show goes on.” Moreover, even at that time, he was excited about his new opponent lined up for him. He stated, “I been prepping for a southpaw for about seven weeks now so I been going pretty hard now but I’m a little more happier that it’s Keith Thurman. Bigger name, caliber of fight bigger.”

Well, it’s going to be interesting to see if the Australian boxer can retain his title against the former world champion. What are your thoughts about Tim Tszyu? Tell us in the comments section.

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