Tszyu’s planned world title eliminator scrapped after US star Lubin walks away

American Erickson Lubin has sensationally walked away from boxing superstar Tim Tszyu again – just as the Australian IBF world title challenger had warned only days ago.

Fox Sports Australia can reveal Lubin has knocked back the chance to fight an IBF world title eliminator in Australia, which now leaves Tszyu’s planned September 22 blockbuster in limbo.

With the purse bid between Tszyu and Lubin cancelled, promoters No Limit will now wait and see what steps IBF officials wish to take.

It is understood Lubin’s team have told the sanctioning body he will not be fit to fight on the proposed date.

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Only last week however, Tszyu urged Lubin and his team to stop being “princesses” and sign off on the hyped Pay-Per-View headliner, as he jetted out for a Las Vegas camp that will involve a new partnership with the UFC Performance Institute.

The Sydneysider revealed he and Lubin had already exchanged messages over Instagram regarding the September event scheduled for a yet-to-be-announced location.

Tszyu’s statement followed whispers suggesting the American was not keen to fly out to Australia to take the fight.

Asked if he thought the fight location could be an issue, Tszyu told Fox Sports Australia: “Maybe.

“I know a lot of (American) fighters don’t like to travel.

“Or are scared to travel.

“They only need to fly for an hour and already they’re complaining.

“You feel like saying ‘relax … princesses’.

“For us Australian fighters, it’s what we have to do … even for camp I’m going to America.”

Soon after in his interview, Tszyu continued: “He initially messaged me on Instagram about a month ago (regarding the fight) and I replied to him saying ‘let’s do it’.

“I told him that I’ve been waiting for him since the start of this year.

“So I think he’s keen.

“I just hope he doesn’t get cold feet.

“(Laughs) It tends to happen.”

The latest drama represents the third time Lubin – who doubles as the highest ranked challenger to IBF champ Bakhram Murtazaliev – has walked away from discussions with Tszyu.

Promoters No Limit initially tried to bring the American to Australia last year, while Lubin was also favoured to be Tszyu’s opponent when The Soul Taker looked to unify the WBO and WBC straps in March.

American Jesus Ramos Jnr (21-1) now looms as a potential replacement to keep the September bout alive, while others inside the IBF top 10 rankings include undefeated German Slawa Spomer, Jack Culcay, Xander Zayas and Irishman Callum Walsh.

Regardless, Tszyu and his team have already jetted out for the United States and a camp that will see the 29-year-old based out of his new Las Vegas home at Split T Boxing gym.

Tszyu’s head coach Igor Goloubev has also revealed that his charge will do chunks of his strength and conditioning work at the UFC Performance Institute – which has also been used by athletes outside MMA, boxing megastar Terence Crawford and the Los Vegas Raiders.

The bout will be Tszyu’s first since losing in his hyped push to unify the WBO and WBC straps earlier this year.

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While Lubin was initially in talks for that bout, the opportunity went instead to Keith Thurman — who then withdrew injured himself, creating an opportunity for towering US southpaw Sebastian Fundora.

Fundora, of course, eventually unified the division via a shock, and incredibly bloody, split decision win.

During negotiations, a furious Lubin took to social media denying suggestions that he had walked away from talks as had been reported in Australia, stating: “Don’t start some s*** you know nothing about, that ain’t even how I rock I’ll fight anybody”.

Yet when asked last week if he had a message for Lubin, Tszyu cackled: “Let’s make this easy rather than being princesses.

“That’s what I’d say to him and his team.

“If both boys want it, let’s make it happen.”