Tim Tszyu’s shock August return could have long-term implications involving Saudi Arabian boxing kingpin
Tim Tszyu’s comeback has been confirmed and his camp hold serious hope that it could take the Australian to the next level with boxing’s new Saudi Arabian kingpin.
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Tim Tszyu’s comeback has been confirmed, with The Soul Taker to face unbeaten knockout artist Vergil Ortiz on August 3, with long-term implications involving boxing’s new Saudi Arabian kingpin.
As reported by this masthead, the fight will take place in Los Angeles on the undercard of Terence Crawford’s super-welterweight debut against Israil Madrimov, and was made official at a press conference in New York overnight.
Tszyu was back in Sydney supporting younger brother Nikita in his Australian super-welterweight title defence on Wednesday night, but his appearance on the card was confirmed by Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn in New York.
“Don’t’ forget, Tim Tszyu against Vergil Ortiz,” Hearn said at the press conference announcing the card. “I think it’s one of the best fights you can make in boxing.”
Ortiz just needs to beat the 26-6-1 Thomas Dulorme the weekend, and the bout will be official.
🚨 Backdrop for the Terence Crawford-Israil Madrimov press conference.
— EverythingBoxing (@EverythingBoxi2) April 24, 2024
On the artwork you can see Tim Tszyu vs Vergil Ortiz Jr, Andy Ruiz vs Jarrell Miller, David Morrell vs Radivoje Kalajdzic, Isaac Cruz, and Andy Cruz. pic.twitter.com/dFafP4wLbn
It’s an earlier than expected return for the Australian after fears he could be sidelined for an extended period following his bloody world title defeat to Sebastian Fundora in March.
The August 3 event is the brainchild of Saudi Arabian heavy hitter Turki Al-Sheikh, and Tszyu’s team hopes his presence on the card will be the first in an ongoing relationship with boxing’s new kingpin.
“It’s always hard to be enthusiastic on the back of a loss, but with the Saudis coming in and doing what they’re doing in boxing, they’re only interested in the big fights. And that’s Tim,” Tszyu’s manager Glen Jennings told this masthead.
“They’ve already indicated that that’s the dude they want.
“I think if Al-Sheikh and the Saudis go with what they’re saying, it’ll be a long-term commitment. They’re absolute boxing fans.
“It’s marvellous to have this new platform and these new guys involved in boxing.”
Although the fallout from Tszyu’s Las Vegas defeat to Fundora continues, Jennings argues his fighter is in an even better position now than he could have been.
“We take the loss with regret and disappointment, but we went over there with a mission to launch Tim Tszyu into the American market,” he said.
“And how better to do it than to have a bloodbath? His stock is bigger than we could’ve got from an easy win over Fundora.
“It’s a new chapter for Tim. The Tim we went over there with is gone, and now he’s like a junkyard dog that wants to fight all the best guys.
“He doesn’t give a s**t about the belts. He does not care.”
Ortiz is a dangerous opponent who has stopped all 20 of his opponents inside the distance.
The 26-year-old Texan moved from welterweight to super-welterweight in January, and packs such a punch that Australian boxing legend Jeff Fenech warned Team Tszyu against taking the fight.
But Jennings is confident Tszyu will be too much for Ortiz.
“If you want to come up to 154, it’s a quantum shift from 147, and you’re going in against one of the biggest at 154 – Tim’s a monster,” he said.
“We’re excited. Tim’s like a kid in a candy shop.
“He doesn’t care about anything else, he just wants the biggest names and the baddest dudes.”
The card shapes as one of the best of 2024, and proves Tszyu is still a force in boxing despite not holding a world title.
In the headline bout, WBA super-welterweight world titleholder Madrimov defends his belt against longtime welterweight champion Crawford.
Former unified heavyweight world champion Andy Ruiz is back in action against Jarrell ‘Big Baby’ Miller, with newly crowned WBA super-lightweight world champion Isaac Cruz defending against Jose Valenzuela.
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