Tyson Pedro’s transition to boxing has been dealt a setback, with the former UFC star forced to cancel his debut fight after a training injury.
The 32-year-old was slated to fight Kris Terzievski – the man who stopped Paul Gallen a number of years ago – on an exclusive Stan Sport pay-per-view next month.
Pedro was expected to headline the event at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion on June 12, but the bout has been called off after he suffered a fractured elbow during sparring.
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Speaking exclusively to Wide World Of Sports, promoter and boxing legend Danny Green admitted Pedro’s withdrawal was a major blow.
“He is pretty gutted … it’s fairly deflating and fairly devastating news for him and his family and everyone involved around him,” Green said.
“His opponent Kris Terzievski has been training really hard and all the fighters on the undercard now have to face the cancellation, which is very difficult news to be giving people. Unfortunately, that’s the nature of combat sports.
“It’s probably too early to tell [how long he will be sidelined], we only just got the results back this morning. There is the strong possibility of him requiring surgery.”
Pedro announced his shock retirement from MMA earlier this year after a loss to Vitor Petrino in March, before revealing his plans to transition into boxing.
The popular Penrith product is remaining positive despite the setback and believes his injury history will hold him in good stead as he prepares to get back into the ring.
“I’m devastated – but I have dealt with injuries before and there’s not much you can do,” Pedro told Wide World Of Sports.
“I’ve been busting my arse, but this is the nature of the fight game. When you are training this hard, you can expect to get these sorts of injuries.
“This feels pretty easy – knowing that it’s bone and not ligaments or tendons, because then you know you’re in for the long haul. With bone, you can just give it a bit of time … six weeks hopefully. It’s still the same mission, just a different timeline.
“I was feeling amazing to be honest. I’ve fallen in love with the sport, I have been studying so much. I am starting pretty much from scratch.
“To become a student of the game again has been fun.”
Terzievski (12-1) is now facing the prospect of waiting until later in the year to step into the ring with Pedro.
