Tszyu set for Ortiz Jr test

Swift turnaround in the works for Tim

Tim Tszyu could be back much sooner than expected, with a bout against unbeaten former welterweight world champion Vergil Ortiz Jr in the works for the August undercard of Terence Crawford’s showdown with Israil Madrimov.

The news comes less than 24 hours after Tszyu’s hopes of a rematch with Sebastian Fundora were dashed when the WBO ruled the ‘Towering Inferno’ must defend the title against the Crawford-Madrimov winner, who will become the sanctioning body’s interim champion.

It is understood that No Limit has been working closely with American promoters PBC to lock in a blockbuster return for Tszyu following his bloody world title defeat to Fundora in March.

ESPN first reported the news that Ortiz Jr is in the mix, with the 20-0 American just needing to get past the 26-6-1 Thomas Dulorme this weekend unscathed.

“A lot can change in a matter of days in boxing,” No Limit CEO George Rose said on Tuesday of Tszyu’s possible return.

“For Tim, easy fights don’t exist anymore.

“Every fight he takes is another opportunity to advance, it won’t be an easy fight by any means.

“We want entertaining fights, title fights and opportunities.”

Tszyu is serving a six-week suspension following his split decision defeat to Fundora, and his team is monitoring the bad cut on his forehead closely.

Tszyu doesn’t want to wait for Fundora, and is understood to be less concerned about winning back his WBO world title than he is about making the biggest fights possible.

“Tim’s whole version of boxing doesn’t necessarily spin around belts,” Tszyu’s manager Glen Jennings said.

“He wants the biggest fights and the best tests all the time.

“We actually have to pull him back.

“He just wants the big boys, the big fights and the best challenges.

“Tim’s an elite level fighter and that’s where he’ll stay until he finishes.

“There’s no backward step, no sideways step. Any opponent needs to be a sufficient challenge for him to get out of bed.

“It’s going to be exciting.”

The 26-year-old Ortiz has finished every one of his 20 opponents via stoppage.

He won the WBO welterweight world title in 2021 with a seventh round KO of Maurice Hooker, and defended the title twice before illness derailed his career.

H e moved up to superwelterweight in January, knocking out Fredrick Lawson inside one round.

The August 3 (August 4 in Australia) Crawford-Madrimov card will take place in Los Angeles and is being organised by new boxing kingpin Turki Alalshikh.