Former unified welterweight champion Keith Thurman has been preparing for his first fight since 2022, but it looks like his return will be delayed.
sports illustrated's Chris Mannix reported that Thurman is expected to miss the March 30th match against Tim Tzu due to injury. Mannix added that PBC is looking for a replacement opponent for Tszyu.
boxing people Dan Raphael We previously reported that a matchup with Tszyu was “in jeopardy” because Thurman suffered “some sort of injury.”
“How many times have you seen a player go to the doctor with an injury 12 days before the match and the match is over? He doesn't look well,” the official told Rafael.
In January, it was announced that Thurman and Tszyu would compete in the main event of PBC's first pay-per-view as part of a new deal with Amazon Prime Video. Tzu holds the WBO super welterweight title, but the WBO refused to sanction the fight, and the title was not on the line and the fight was held at a catchweight of 155 pounds.
Thurman (30-1, 22 KOs) suffered his first career loss by split decision against the legendary Manny Pacquiao in July 2019. However, they have only fought once in the four and a half years since that fight, defeating Mario Barrios by unanimous decision in February 2022.
Tszyu (24-0, 17 KOs) has had a great 2023, defeating former titleholder Tony Harrison by ninth-round TKO in March, followed by a first-round KO of Carlos to win the WBO interim super welterweight title. I'm about to finish. Ocampo won a unanimous decision in June and Brian Mendoza in October. He was promoted to champion after undisputed champion Jermell Charlo was stripped of his WBO title.
