Tim Tszyu fight cancelled in devastating development

Tim Tszyu’s boxing career is suddenly at a crossroads after a devastating announcement by his team on Friday morning.

Tim Tszyu’s fight with Virgil Orgil is off.

The Australian was booked to fight the undefeated American on August 3, but his doctors have been forced to step in to shut the fight down.

Tszyu’s promoters No Limit confirmed on Friday morning Tszyu has been ordered to step away because of the sickening head wound he suffered during his title fight defeat at the hands of Sebastian Fundora in March.

UFC 302: MAKHACHEV VS POIRIER | SUN JUNE 2 | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports. Main Event on Kayo Sports and Foxtel is the exclusive home of UFC Pay-Per-View.

You don’t play boxing. Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images.

“We are bitterly disappointed with the setback and Tim is extremely frustrated after a great pre-camp with Kostya,” No Limit CEO George Rose said.

“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.”

Those same doctors have ordered Tszyu not to spar for a further six weeks. He had already been medically suspended by the Nevada State Athletic Commission until May 15 following his fight in Las Vegas.

It is yet another hammer blow the 29-year-old has suffered this year with his world title re-match with Fundora already called off in cruel circumstances.

Sebastian Fundora’s nose was broken in the fight. Supplied No Limit Boxing

Tszyu’s career was already heading in a new direction after the WBO announced US pound-for-pound king Terence Crawford is next in line to fight Fundora for his super welterweight crown.

WBO executives announced last month Crawford’s planned August 3 bout against WBA champ Israil Madrimov will be for the WBO interim title with the winner to fight Fundora later this year.

Tsyu’s blockbuster with Ortiz was booked in to be the co-main event on the stacked Crawford-Madrimov card in Los Angeles.

The “Soul Taker” has now suddenly been left with no obvious path back to a world title fight — at least not until 2025.

Tszyu’s brave decision to turn his attention to Ortiz — an undefeated fighter — had been widely praised, but was also described as dangerous.

Ortiz, a former welterweight world champ, has moved to the superwelterweight division after crushing every opponent put in front of him in the lower weight class.

He has a perfect 20-0 record with all 20 wins coming via knockout.

It’s a long way back to the top.

According to ESPN, Ortiz will still fight on the Crawford card with a replacement opponent being organised.

It has been an extraordinary series of unfortunate events for Tszyu, who could easily have retained his title against Fundora if not for the accidental elbow that opened up a deep cut at the top of his forehead in Round 2.

Had Tszyu’s camp stopped the fight before the fourth round, the Sydney-sider could have walked away with a “no-contest” ruling.

The ringside physician twice inspected Tszyu’s head during the fight and both times allowed the fight to continue.

Rose insisted after the Fundora fight that a re-match clause was in place for Tszyu to fight the “Towering Inferno” again, but that so-called agreement ultimately meant nothing when Crawford entered the picture.

There were suggestions in April that Tszyu could still try to bring his next fight back to Australia with reports the NSW and Queensland state governments were prepared to offer big money to stage Tszyu’s next fight in Sydney or Brisbane.

Without a belt on the line, it appears unlikely Tszyu will have the luxury of fighting on home soil any time soon.

Originally published as Tim Tszyu fight cancelled in devastating development