America’s Erickson Lubin has revealed he was already signed to fight Tim Tszyu in Australia this December — but has now questioned if the Sydneysider will ever return to big time boxing Stateside.
One of the biggest names in the super welterweight division, Lubin has told Fox Sports Australia he was “disappointed” after watching his own world title headliner destroyed in Orlando, Florida on Saturday night.
Lubin also questioned whether Tszyu would recover from the beating that was being dropped four times in three rounds by undefeated champ Bakhram Murtazaliev — with his corner eventually throwing in the towel.
Elsewhere, fellow boxing star Caleb Plant said he was confident Tszyu would be back while Murtazaliev also labelled his rival a “real man”.
For Lubin, it seemed there was every chance the Florida native was going to ramp up the impending showdown Tszyu showdown had he become a world champion again — given he was sat ringside in a VIP section including names like Antonio Tarver and Plant.
Instead, the Florida native was forced to watch on as 29-year-old Tszyu suffered a brutal stoppage loss in his IBF championship bout against Murtazaliev.
Taking to X afterwards however, Plant retweeted Main Event’s video of Tszyu speaking with media backstage, writing: “Good man. No excuses. Real good fighter. Rest up, regroup and we’ll see you again soon @Tim_Tszyu is great for the sport and even better guy.”
Lubin, meanwhile, revealed he was in the building because he had already agreed to fight Tszyu at a yet-to-be-determined Australian location December.
“It was signed,” he said of what would have been an IBF world title headliner.
“I’d already signed but it looks like I’ll have to make different plans now.”
Asked his thoughts on the fight, the division contended continued: “I think Tim Tszyu is too tough for his own good.
“He’ll get up every time and keep fighting.
“But I also feel like Tim hasn’t really beaten anybody.
“So tonight he got, not exposed … but he fought a champion and we saw (what happened).”
Seated up close to the action, Lubin admitted genuine surprise to seeing Tszyu being knocked down three times in the second round of his IBF title fight.
