Tim Chu's boxing career has suddenly found itself at a crossroads following a shock announcement from his team on Friday morning.
After his unfortunate loss on the world stage in Las Vegas, Tim Tszyu reflects on the result, while his fiancée has some harsh words to offer.
The Australian was scheduled to face the unbeaten American on August 3 but doctors were forced to step in and call the bout off.
Tsiu's promoters, No Limit, confirmed on Friday morning that Tsiu had been ordered to withdraw from the bout due to the severe head injuries he sustained in his title loss to Sebastian Fandora in March.
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I'm not going to box. Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images
“We are extremely disappointed by this setback and Tim is extremely frustrated after a fantastic pre-season training camp with Kostya,” No Limit CEO George Rose said.
“He showed everyone he's willing to fight anything against Fandora, but to be honest, this decision was out of his hands. At the end of the day, his body and medical experts told him he just wasn't ready.”
The same doctors also banned Tsiu from sparring for the next six weeks. Tsiu had already received a medical suspension from the Nevada State Athletic Commission until May 15 after his bout in Las Vegas.
It is another blow for the 29-year-old, having already had his world title rematch with Fundora called off in brutal circumstances earlier this year.
Sebastian Fandora's nose was broken during the fight. Courtesy of No Limit Boxing
Tsiu's career was already heading in a new direction after the WBO announced that American pound-for-pound champion Terence Crawford would next fight Fundora for the super welterweight crown.
WBO officials announced last month that an Aug. 3 bout between Crawford and WBA champion Israil Madrimov will be for the interim WBO title, with the winner to face Fundora later this year.
The blockbuster bout between Tzuyu and Ortiz was booked as the co-main event of a beefy Crawford vs. Madrimov card in Los Angeles.
“The Soultaker” now suddenly finds himself without a clear path back to world title contention until at least 2025.
Tszyu's brave decision to turn his attention to the unbeaten fighter Ortiz was widely praised but also described as dangerous.
Ortiz, a former welterweight world champion, moved up to super welterweight after dominating all opponents he faced in the lower weight classes.
He boasts a perfect 20-0 record, with all 20 wins coming by knockout.
There's still a long way to go before we reach the top again.
According to ESPN:Ortiz is scheduled to compete against Crawford as a replacement opponent has already been booked.
It was a series of unfortunate events for Tsiu, who could have easily defended his title against Fundora had an errant elbow not left him with a deep cut on the top of his forehead in the second round.
If Choo's camp had stopped the fight before the fourth round, the Sydney native might have been able to finish the bout with a “no contest” decision.
The ringside doctor examined Tse's head twice during the bout and both times cleared him to continue.
Rose claimed after the Fandora fight that there was a rematch clause in place for Tsiu to face “The Towering Inferno” again, but with the arrival of Crawford, that so-called agreement ended up meaning nothing.
In April, it was reported that the New South Wales and Queensland state governments were willing to provide significant funding for Tsiu's next match to be held in Sydney or Brisbane, suggesting he may seek to return to Australia for his next match.
With the belt not on the line, Tsiu is unlikely to have the time to fight in his home country anytime soon.
