Next weekend’s Tim Tszyu vs. Errol Spence blockbuster card has been thrown into turmoil after American superstar Jermall Charlo was denied entry into Australia.
Former middleweight champion Charlo was scheduled to face Sydney underdog Koen Mazoudier in the co-main event of a card that was touted as the best in Aussie boxing history.
Charlo was supposed to land on Thursday alongside Spence, but didn’t make the flight after his visa was denied.
Promoter No Limit had been tying to get his paperwork in order, trying six times to have Charlo’s application approved with hopes he could even arrive as late as this Tuesday.
However, with a little over a week until fight day, Charlo posted that the Australian government had denied him entry.
“Unfortunately, I will not be able to fight next Saturday,” Charlo said. “I’ve been training non-stop for the last three months and was ready to make a statement.
“I want to apologise to all my fans and let them know I will keep training and be back on a PBC event very soon.”
In an Instagram story, Charlo pointed the blame at Australia.
“Australian government,” he wrote with a thumbs down emoji and a shrugging emoji.
“Out of my control …
“I will stay focused and locked in. (Promoter) Premier Boxing will update you soon.”
A former opponent of Nikita Tszyu, and a mainstay on No Limit shows, Mazoudier stood to make the biggest payday of his career against Charlo next weekend.
No Limit is working on another American opponent for Mazoudier, so he can still fight on the Tszyu-Spence card next Sunday at Afterpay Arena in Sydney.
Mazoudier was devastated when told the news on Saturday morning, but remains fully focused on fighting next Sunday.
“No Limit are the best promoters in the business,” Mazoudier told Code Sports. “They’ll find me a replacement.
“I’ve trained for the fight of my life. I’m in incredible shape.
“I’m a fighter. Every opponent I’ve ever been offered, I’ve said yes to. Fighters fight, and I’m fighting.
“I’ve got full faith in No Limit to get me a replacement.”
No Limit confirmed the setback on Saturday morning.
“We’re bitterly disappointed, we worked hard to assemble a great card,” a spokesperson told Code Sports. “Charlo was a part of those plans as well.
“We’re still working hard to put together a fantastic card for Australian boxing fans next Sunday.
“The remainder of the card is unchanged in stature.
“It remains one of the best cards ever assembled on Australian soil, headlined by Errol Spence Jr’s highly anticipated return against Australian superstar Tim Tszyu, plus Stephen Fulton vs. Liam Wilson, Callum Peters and Paulo Aokuso and more.”
Charlo wasn’t the only one with dramas around his entry into Australia.
Spence was nearly stopped from boarding his flight from Los Angeles to Sydney when one letter on his passport was different from the paperwork immigration officials had.
Meanwhile, there were concerns around Stephen Fulton – who fights Queensland’s Liam Wilson – but the Philadelphia fighter made a low key entry on Friday morning.