Former UFC star Tyson Pedro’s boxing debut and headline bout collapses last minute, offer to opponent of extra $50k to save fight

A contract spat has put a sudden end to Tyson Pedro’s boxing debut, with the fight collapsing due to a payment dispute, despite an extra incentive being offered to keep the fight intact.

Former UFC star Tyson Pedro’s much-hyped boxing debut tonight has collapsed after his opponent sensationally walked out on fight day over a $120,000 payment dispute, despite being offered an extra $50,000 to keep the fight intact.

Code Sports can reveal Kris Terzievski, the former Australian heavyweight champion who beat two years ago, is flying home to Melbourne after a contract spat with fight promoters.

Pedro’s camp offered Terzievski the extra $50,000 to keep their fight intact, and claims the Melbourne fighter is “running scared like his relative Michael Zerafa” after he sensationally flew home on the morning of the fight.

In what is already being called one of the darkest days in Australian boxing, Terzievski pulled out of the fight due to the contract dispute.

Terzievski was slated for a main-event showdown with Pedro, a business partner and close friend of NRL superstar Nathan Cleary who was poised for his professional boxing debut at Panthers Leagues tonight.

Former UFC star Tyson Pedro was all set to fight when chaos ensued on Wednesday. Picture: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

The Terzievski camp had sought assurances that his fight fee of $120,000 would be paid in the lead-up to his bout with Pedro.

When fight promoters insisted they would pay Terzievski after the fight, his camp were not satisfied with those commercial terms and headed to Sydney airport after checking out of their Penrith hotel.

In a highly unusual set of circumstances, Terzievski was paid his full fight purse on the morning of the fight, but by that stage, his team had checked in at Sydney airport and refused to return to Penrith. Boxers are generally paid in the seven days after the fight.

Terzievski is based in Melbourne, with his manager Brian Amatruda confirming the man who beat Gallen will not be facing Pedro on Wednesday night.

Kris Terzievski fighting Paul Gallen in Newcastle, May 2022. Picture: Mark Evans/Getty Images

“The fight is off,” he said.

“We are going home.

“There were continued delays and the contract wasn’t honoured.”

Pedro’s promotional company, Ronin Entertainment offered the extra $50,000 to keep the fight going ahead.

“This is almost like the Tim Tszyu vs Michael Zerafa deal,” a spokesman for Ronin Entertainment told this masthead. “Terzievski, being related to Zerafa, he’s taken a leaf out of his book.

“Terzeivski’s running scared, just like Zerafa did with Tszyu.

The last-minute withdrawal has been likened to Tim Tszyu and Michael Zerafa where the latter pulled out. Picture: Peter Lorimer/Getty Images

“Ronin Entertainment exhausted all avenues to keep him here – paid him before the fight, and offered him another $50,000 on top – and still he put his tail between his legs and went back to Melbourne.

“There’s different kinds of fighters in this country. There’s people who do this for fun, and there are people who can hurt you.

“Kris Terzievski is someone who does this for fun. Tyson’s someone who will hurt you. And we saw that in Terzievski’s eyes.”

The same spokesman said Terzievski’s decision will have long-lasting ramifications too.

The winner of the fight would have been a front-runner to challenge for a WBC title next year, but the WBC have already said they won’t work with Terzievski in the future.

“He might not be able to fight in Australia for another 12 months,” the spokesman added.

A spokesman for Pedro’s promoter accused Terzievski of running scared, withdrawing from the much-anticipated fight on the morning of. Picture: Mark Evans/Getty Images

The winner of the fight would have been a front-runner to challenge for a WBC title next year, but the WBC have already said they won’t work with Terzievski in the future.

“He might not be able to fight in Australia for another 12 months,” the spokesman added.

The shock development is a terrible look for Australian boxing and a blow to the Stan Sport card, which will proceed without the Pedro-Terzievski headliner.

Australian Olympian Paulo Aokuso has now been promoted to main-event status for his clash with Clay Waterman, while former NRL star Curtis Scott’s heavyweight scrap with ex-All Black Liam Messam will proceed.

Paulo Aokuso will now be the headline fight. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Scott’s manager Titus Day said: “We’ve had no issues with the promoter or with Stan. We have a contract and we’re confident it will be fulfilled.

“Curtis will be showing up and fighting tonight.”

Aokuso, a former Brisbane Broncos development player, is relishing the chance to return as a main-event fighter as the classy southpaw chases his eighth consecutive victory in his eventual plan to fight for a world title.

“I am just ready to get in there and get the job done,” he said.

“I’m confident. I have trained hard for this and I will back my ability to get the job done on Wednesday night.

“I feel like it will be a one-way street to be honest. I will be too fast and sharp for him.

“I have the talent to win a world title and I believe I can do it.

“Clay Waterman is a tough opponent. I remember him from the amateurs, but I’ve fought the best of the best and he hasn’t done that.

“I reached No. 2 in the world in my fifth year of boxing so you will see me at my best on Wednesday night.

Originally published as Former UFC star Tyson Pedro’s boxing debut and headline bout collapses last minute, offer to opponent of extra $50k to save fight