The highly anticipated fight between former junior middleweight titleholder Tim Tszyu and undefeated contender Vergil Ortiz won’t be happening on August 3.
That’s because of lingering damage from the bad cut Tszyu suffered in his loss to Sebastian Fundora earlier this year, according to boxing reporter Dan Rafael, citing an anonymous source.
“Doc ruled him out due to terrible cut suffered vs. Fundora not being healed enough for him to fight,” Rafael posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Tszyu vs. Ortiz was slated to take place on the undercard of a stacked event in Los Angeles bankrolled by Saudi royal adviser Turki Alalshikh.
The show is headlined by Terence Crawford challenging junior middleweight titleholder Israil Madrimov. The other undercard fights include David Morrell vs. Radivoje Kalajdzic in a light heavyweight fight; Isaac Cruz defending his lightweight title against Jose Valenzuela; and Andy Ruiz vs. Jarrell Miller in a heavyweight match.
Tszyu vs. Ortiz was expected to be an entertaining action fight. But it also was a surprising addition to the show, given how terrible Tszyu’s cut was — and how recent that fight was.
Tszyu faced Fundora on March 30. Fundora was a late replacement opponent, stepping in for Keith Thurman.
The cut was opened up at the end of the second round. Tszyu had dodged a right hook from Fundora, missed with a left hook of his own, and then ducked forward. Against a fighter closer to his own height, Tszyu’s head might have run into his opponent’s head or gloves. Instead, he collided with his 6-foot-6 foe’s left elbow. It was wholly unintentional and very, very damaging.
Tszyu had a large gash above his hairline. It streamed blood down his face for much of the fight, hampering his vision. Tszyu’s team failed to call a halt to the fight before the fourth round was over, which meant that if the fight ended because of an injury, it would go to the scorecards rather than being rendered a “no decision.” And Tszyu continued to fall behind on the cards, ultimately dropping a split decision and falling to 24-1 (17 KOs).
No announcement has been made yet as to whether Ortiz, 21-0 (21 KOs), will remain on the show and, if so, whom he will face.
Follow David Greisman on Twitter @FightingWords2. His book, “Fighting Words: The Heart and Heartbreak of Boxing,” is available on Amazon.
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