Tim Tszyu has been sensationally ruled out of his impending world title clash with unbeaten American prodigy Vergil Ortiz Jnr – with doctors declaring the Australian boxing poster boy unfit to fight.
No Limit CEO George Rose confirmed Friday morning that Tszyu would be withdrawing from what was set to be a hyped WBA super welterweight interim title showdown in Los Angeles on August 4.
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Rose revealed Team Tszyu had been provided medical advice suggesting the 29-year-old still needs more time to heal up after suffering a deep head laceration in his recent world title loss against towering American southpaw Sebastian Fundora.
Held in March this year, Australia’s then WBO champ was looking to unify for the first time in his career when he took on Fundora for the vacant WBC crown in a Las Vegas blockbuster.
After dominating the opening two rounds, Tszyu was then forced to effectively fight blind for some 30 minutes against a rival whose wayward elbow split him open in the dying moments of the second round.
So significant was the blood loss, Tszyu became increasingly impeded as the fight went but still gamely battled on before eventually suffering a split decision loss.
While initially expecting to be right for the Ortiz fight, Team Tszyu have now made the tough decision to withdraw their fighter following new medical advice.
It is understood he has also been told to refrain for sparring for at least six weeks.
The news comes as a huge surprise given Tszyu only recently completed two weeks of training in Thailand, where he was joined for part of his stay by Hall of Fame father, Kostya tszyu.
The pair spent seven days training together and uploaded several clips to social media.
Fox Sports Australia can reveal Tszyu’s team were as recently as last week finalising plans for what was to be an eight-week fight camp in the United States – with several key sparring partners already picked out.
“We are bitterly disappointed with the set back and Tim is extremely frustrated after a great pre-camp with Kostya,” Rose said in a statement on Friday.
“He showed everyone that he’ll fight through anything against Fundora but this decision was taken out of his hands to be honest.
“Ultimately, it was his body and medical professionals telling him he wasn’t ready yet.”
The statement then concluded by suggesting additional details of when Tszyu would be able to return to the ring would be provided by No Limit Boxing “in the future”.
It has been a whirlwind few days for Tszyu, who also learned his opportunity for a rematch with Fundora was gone after “The Towering Inferno” signed on for a lucrative championship fight against Errol Spence.
ESPN reported the new champ would face Spence in Dallas this October.
Spence was ringside earlier this year for Tszyu’s shock loss to Fundora, with the latter stepping in on late notice after Keith Thurman pulled out injured from the main event.
While Tszyu’s corner was criticised for its treatment of his cut during the Fundora loss, both for being unable to stop the blood flow and then not demanding the championship bout be called off, the fighter himself has continually defended his team.
Asked after the loss about his decision to continue, Tszyu said: “Look, I told you, I’m an old throwback fighter whatever circumstances.
“I couldn’t see but all credit belongs to the man who won tonight.
“These things happen.
“The momentum was rolling, I was swinging hard in the first rounds and then ‘boom’, you’re blinded completely.
“But, look, this is boxing.
“This is part of the sport and it happens.
“Congratulations to Fundora – he’s the new king at 154 (pounds).”