Tim Tszyu’s team will open talks for a WBO world title showdown against undefeated American prodigy Vergil Ortiz Jnr as soon as this week – with the fight one of three championship blockbusters now being discussed for Australia in 2024.
Only a day after being called out by Ortiz Jnr, who has won all 20 of his fights by knockout, Fox Sports Australia can reveal Team Tszyu are readying to open talks with the 25-year-old’s famed promoter, Oscar De La Hoya.
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While Tszyu’s most likely next opponent remains American Erickson Lubin – with discussions already well advanced around a Las Vegas title fight in March – Ortiz has suddenly catapulted into conversations to be after that, should The Soul Taker continue his undefeated run.
It comes as legendary American promoter Bob Arum has also discussed the idea of having another two of Australian boxing’s biggest names – George Kambosos and Jason Moloney – share a huge card Down Under in either April or May.
Currently on a run of five straight wins, Moloney is set to defend his WBO bantamweight title for the first time this Sunday against US contender Saul Sanchez.
Should ‘Mayhem’ win, Fox Sports Australia understands Arum is keen to turn the champ around quickly and have him co-main on the proposed IBF lightweight title showdown between Kambosos and Vasiliy Lomachenko.
All of which means Australian fight fans could potentially see three of the nation’s biggest fight names all involved in world title bouts on homesoil in 2024.
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After spending some 18 months out of the sport due to illness, Ortiz Jnr returned in both stunning and controversial fashion last Sunday afternoon (AEST) in Las Vegas – scoring a contentious first round TKO over Frederick Lawson.
While referee Tony Weeks has since been blasted on social media for what fans and commentators alike considered an early stoppage, Ortiz is already looking forward to a world title showdown with Tszyu.
The undefeated Texan, who De La Hoya labelled “the best fighter on the planet”, also expressed his interest in travelling Down Under to ensure the fight takes place.
An Australian showdown would represent a stunning return to form for the rising US star.
Since March 2022, Ortiz has withdrawn from three fights due to health issues related to rhabdomyolysis — a condition which occurs when damaged muscle tissue breaks down, releasing their contents into the bloodstream.
Only last year, a proposed bout between Ortiz and Lithuania’s Eimantas Stanionis was postponed three times.
The first was due to Stanionis undergoing an emergency appendectomy, while the second two were because of Ortiz’s rhabdomyolysis recurrence.
Yet with the Dallas-born fighter back to full health, and having moved up in weight, he now wants a shot at Tszyu, who is himself yet to taste defeat in his 24 professional bouts since 2016.
Better, Australia’s undefeated star has already confirmed his interest, taking to X immediately after the win to tweet: “Yo @VergilOrtiz Welcome to the “54 club. I’m always keen for a modern day classic”.
As a result, Tszyu’s No Limit promoters George and Matt Rose are set to begin talks with De La Hoya about bringing Ortiz Down Under as soon as this week.
Elsewhere, the Rose boys are still finalising Tszyu’s likely March world title defence in the US, while also working out what will be next for two more title contenders in their stable, Sam Goodman and Liam Wilson.
Moloney, meanwhile, is set to fight on Sunday’s big Top Rank card which – set to be shown live on Main Event – will be headlined by undefeated light heavyweight champ Artur Beterbiev.
Beterbiev (19-0) defends his IBF, WBC and WBO straps against Englishman Callum Smith (29-1) in Quebec City, Canada.
The bout is the first for Moloney (26-2) since his emphatic world title win over Vincent Astrolabio last May, with the extended break due to the Aussie having fought through some eight rounds with a fractured right hand to claim gold.
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