Tyson Pedro, the former mixed martial artist, is set to make his long-awaited boxing debut after his previous scheduled fight was abruptly cancelled. His last opponent, Australian heavyweight champion Kris Terzievski, withdrew on the morning of their November bout due to a dispute over the payment of his $120,000 fight fee, leading to frustration for both Pedro and the World Boxing Council (WBC), who declared they would not work with Terzievski again.
Pedro, feeling deprived of a chance at a title, will now face unbeaten Pakistani boxer Taimoor Khan for the WBC International Bridgerweight Title on February 26 in Sydney. The event, titled Nowhere To Run, will also feature notable fighters such as Alex Leapai Jr and Jackson England.
In a unique twist, NRL star Nathan Cleary has joined Pedro’s training camp, offering support and advice ahead of the fight. Cleary expressed admiration for Pedro’s willingness to challenge himself by moving from MMA to boxing and taking on formidable opponents instead of opting for easier matches. The complete fight card for the event will be revealed soon, with the matches available for viewing on 9Go and Stan Sport.