The highly-anticipated 12-round headliner matchup between Tim Tzu and Keith Thurman, set to take place on March 30 in Las Vegas, will not be for Tzu’s WBO junior middleweight title. Instead, the bout will occur at a middleweight catchweight of 155 pounds.
According to ESPN’s report, The World Boxing Organization has declined to sanction the fight for Tzu’s WBO junior middleweight title. This decision arises due to Thurman’s circumstances, which hinder his eligibility to contend for the 154-pound title. Key factors contributing to this decision include Thurman’s absence from the ring for 29 months, his lack of previous experience competing at 154 pounds, and his ranking outside of the WBO top 15.
Had the WBO agreed to sanction the bout for the 154-pound title, it would have faced criticism from fans, top-15 ranked fighters, and promoters. It would have been deemed unfair for Thurman, given his prolonged absence from meaningful fights and his unranked status at No. 154, to be granted an unjust title shot against Tzu. Such a scenario would have undermined the integrity of the sport and elicited comparisons to novelty fights seen in the realms of celebrity boxing or exhibition matches.
As a result of the WBO’s decision, the upcoming matchup between Tzu and Thurman will proceed without the 154-pound title at stake. However, this does not diminish the interest surrounding the fight, particularly for boxing enthusiasts eager to witness Thurman’s return to the ring after his extended hiatus.
Thurman’s limited activity in recent years, primarily attributed to the toll taken by his 2017 battle with Danny Garcia, has rendered him a less frequent presence in the boxing ring. For Tzu, this presents an opportunity to face a notable opponent of the past, potentially increasing his appeal among older fans. Nonetheless, focusing on bouts against relevant contemporary opponents would best serve Tzu’s quest to bolster his standing in the sport.
