The super welterweight bout between Tim Tszyu and Vergil Ortiz Jr., scheduled for August 3, has been canceled.
Chu, who looked like something out of a horror movie after his bout with Sebastian Fandora on March 30, will be unable to compete due to nasty cuts he sustained in the bout with the 6'5″ Californian. The injury added to Chu's misery after he lost his WBO 154-pound belt by split decision. Fox Sports Australia boxing commentator Ben Damon tweeted earlier today (May 31) that the cuts had not healed in time and Chu would be unable to spar for six weeks, until the second week of July.
The news comes as a blow to Chu, who following his loss to Fandora was given a chance to return to action against Ortiz Jr. on August 3 at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles. In the main event, Terence Crawford challenges Israil Madrimov for Kazakhstan's WBA super welterweight title, with Andy Ruiz, Isaac Cruz, David Morrell and Andy Cruz appearing in the supporting cast. Chu vs. Ortiz Jr. would be a surefire crowd pleaser and a potential Fight of the Year contender, but unfortunately for boxing fans, it will have to happen another day.
With several scheduled bouts against Eimantas Stanionis cancelled in 2023, Ortiz Jr. could be competing in Turki Alarciuk's first bout in the U.S. ESPN reports the unbeaten 26-year-old could instead face Ukraine's Serhiy Bohachuk, who dominated Brian Mendoza to become the WBC interim belt holder and enter a world title fight on the Tszyu vs. Fundora card.
The super welterweight division as a whole continues to evolve as one of the toughest weight classes in the sport. Recent reports in the United States have suggested that new unified champion Sebastian Fandora could face former multiple welterweight titleholder Errol Spence in late 2024. Spence has been away from the ring since a heavy loss to Terence Crawford in July 2023. Crawford became the undisputed welterweight champion by knocking out his rival in the ninth round.
