Former unified super-welterweight world champion Tim Tszyu is set to make his return to the ring on September 22 in Australia.
The 29-year-old has been inactive since his loss to Sebastian Fundora on March 30 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Fundora replaced Tszyu’s original opponent Keith Thurman on short notice for the WBC strap fight against Serhii Bohachuk.
Fundora’s surprising win by split decision not only earned him the WBC and WBO titles but also left Tszyu dealing with a severe cut from an accidental elbow in the second round, causing him to miss out on a bout with Vergil Ortiz Jr on August 3 in Los Angeles.
Tszyu’s upcoming fight on September 22 will serve as an IBF eliminator, giving him a chance to work his way back into the world title picture. The current IBF super-welterweight champion is Russian Bakhram Murtazaliev, who claimed the vacant title with an 11th-round knockout victory over Jack Culcay in April.
Although Tszyu’s opponent for the September bout is not yet confirmed, discussions are underway for a potential matchup with American Erickson Lubin. Lubin, ranked third in the IBF world rankings, has rebounded from his loss to Fundora in 2022 with wins against Luis Arias and Jesus Alejandro Ramos Jr in 2023.