“Thurman, Charlo, Zerafa, Lubin”: Tim Tszyu Reacts to Keith Thurman Injury ‘Pull Out’, Confirms Fight Is Still On

The high-profile PBC inaugural show on Amazon Prime received a shocker. The headline bout between Tim Tszyu and Keith Thurman had to be canceled as the latter pulled out on account of an injury suffered during training. In his place, former WBC interim light middleweight champion Sebastian Fundora will reportedly join for a title clash with Tszyu. Expressing understandable discontent with the unfolding events, the WBO light middleweight champion aired his frustrations on social media.

Per available accounts, Keith Thurman seems to have received a biceps injury. He and Tszyu had agreed upon a catchweight fight fixed at 155 pounds. On April 8, last year, the substitute, Sebastian Fundora, lost his interim title to Brian Mendoza. The latter, in turn, suffered his third career loss to Tim Tszyu six months later, during the title defense. To ‘The Soul Taker’, as he pointed out, it wouldn’t be the first instance of an opponent withdrawing from a fight. But then he still appears optimistic about the opportunities that lie ahead.

Tim Tszyu on Disappointing Setbacks

“I’m used to the word “pull out”,” wrote Tim Tszyu. Then he added, “Thurman, Charlo, Zerafa, Lubin…” But subsequently, he updated that his fight, albeit against a different opponent, stays on, with his schedule remaining the same. “And as always, the show goes on.… see you all March 30.”

The extent of Tszyu’s pain could be assessed. Much before Keith Thurman’s latest pull-out, last year ‘The Soul Taker’, then a contender, had a clash scheduled against Jermell Charlo on January 28 for the American boxer’s undisputed title. However, the fight never came to fruition. It was postponed twice on account of Charlo suffering from an injury. Eventually, walking into the much lucrative bout with Canelo Álvarez, the ‘Iron Man’ failed to defend his WBO title before the stipulated deadline of September 30.

Thus, per regulations, the belt fell into Tim Tszyu’s lap, elevating him to full light middleweight champion. Then, nearly three years ago, citing concerns over travel restrictions because of COVID-19, fellow Australian boxer Michael Zerafa backed out.

Interestingly, reports shared by Fox Sports in January this year revealed that Erickson Lubin, who suffered his second career loss to Sebastian Fundora in April 2022, had reportedly ‘withdrawn from negotiations’. Interestingly, it appears that Lubin came back on Tszyu’s tweet to say that the claims are not true. He had been waiting to receive a confirmation on a date.

However, the latest developments don’t necessarily signify that Tim Tszyu is discouraged. A few hours after the post, he came back optimistically.

Finding Silver Linings

Calling out Sebastian Fundora, ‘The Soul Taker’ sounded hopeful about getting on to big fights against either Errol Spence Jr. or Terence Crawford. He said, “Fight for the ages upcoming @SebastianFundo1 unification time.. old school mentality. Then the big fish. Spence or Crawford.“

Tim Tszyu and Sebastian Fundora’s fight will be a title unification. The former will defend his WBO belt. But at the same time, alongside the tall American challenger, both will be staking a claim to the vacant WBC light middle title as well.

Do you think a fight with Fundora would be as exciting as the one with Thurman would have been? Please share your views with us in the comments below.

Read More: Tim Tszyu Warns Keith Thurman of Bringing Totally Different Style Than Manny Pacquiao and Mario Barrios