WBO junior middleweight champion Tim Tszyu is reportedly heading off to Thailand to begin training camp for a potential March date for his next world title defense.
Last month in Australia, Tszyu made the first defense of his title with a dominant twelve round unanimous decision over top contender Brian Mendoza.
There are now ongoing discussions to hold an event in Las Vegas – with Australian fighters being matched against top contenders from the United States.
No Limit, who promote Tszyu, would like to stage the card on the same weekend as the NRL season launch in Las Vegas.
Promoter George Rose of No Limit is looking at several potential options for Tszyu’s next fight.
The man at the top of the list is WBC, WBA world champion Jermell Charlo.
Tszyu was the longtime mandatory challenger to Charlo’s WBO strap. The fight never happened, as Charlo ultimately moved up by two weight classes to fight super middleweight king Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez in September. The WBO stripped Charlo of his title and elevated Tszyu, who held the interim-belt, to full champion status.
However, there are several other names in the mix – including top contender Erickson Lubin, who recently won a debated decision over unbeaten Jesus Ramos.
“Charlo would obviously be the best. And a fight we’d all love. But it isn’t something we will be holding our breath over. So of course if we can get belts too, we go for belts. But if not we go for a fight that makes sense in America. And generally that’s against either an American or Mexican,” Rose told Fox Sports Australia.
“Erickson Lubin is absolutely in the mix. And at the moment there aren’t many other people in the division that would make sense for a Las Vegas fight. But there are discussions with every option available. We want to lock it away within the next few weeks,. And before our December 15 card in Sydney. That way based on the outcomes of that December card, we can then push on with next year.”