BOTH Keith Thurman and Tim Tsyzu have now ended their winless droughts by claiming stoppage wins in Australia and the super-welterweight rivals seem destined to collide with one another, after persistent rumours in recent weeks.
After Tszyu, 25-2 (18 KOs), bounced back from consecutive defeats with a win over Joey Spencer at the weekend, Thurman, 31-1 (23 KOs), has now announced that he is ready to sign for the fight, keen to return to Australian soil and put an end to the home fighter’s hopes of returning to the 154lb throne.
Thurman was poised to end a two-year spell of inactivity and challenge for Tszyu’s WBO world title last March but was forced to withdraw from the contest due to an injury, with Sebastian Fundora accepting the late-notice challenge and pulling off the upset to hand Tszyu a first career defeat and end his reign as champion.
Seven months later, Tszyu returned to action as a title challenger up against Bakhram Murtazaliev in a quest for the IBF marble, only to be abruptly dispatched inside three rounds as the Russian put together one of the standout performances of the 2024 calendar.
Nevertheless, Tszyu got back to winning ways with a fourth-round stoppage yesterday, scoring a first win in almost 18 months upon his return to home soil, whilst Thurman finally ended his three-year absence from the ring with a third-round victory of Brock Jarvis in Sydney last month.
As a result, the pair are widely expected to meet in the summer and former unified welterweight champion Thurman wasted no time in taking to social media to beckon ‘The Soul Taker’ on – informing the Australian poster boy that he is ready to sign for the fight immediately.
“Congratulations Tim Tszyu! I see that you got through that appetiser, I got through with mine. I got him out in three, you got him out in four and I don’t know about you boy, but I am still hungry.
“Send the contract! I will sign it by tonight, I promise you. I will come to Australia and give you a good fight. Let’s go!”
On Tszyu’s undercard, Koen Mazoudier. 13-4-1 (5 KO), claimed the Australian super-welterweight title by outpointing Dan Hill and called for a rematch with Tim’s brother, Nikita Tszyu, 10-0 (8 KO), during the aftermath, for a showdown that could potentially land on the Tszyu-Thurman undercard.
