Ryan Rozicki continues to endure a year to forget.
BoxingScene has confirmed that 3 Lions Promotions was forced to shut down its October 25 show after losing its headlining act. A training camp injury forced Rozicki to withdraw from a planned clash with South Africa’s Akani Phuzi at Centre 2000 in his hometown of Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada.
The development marks the second time this year that Rozicki, 20-1-1 (19 KOs), was physically sidelined. The hard-hitting cruiserweight contender suffered a torn biceps injury which canceled plans for a mandatory title shot at WBC 200lbs titlist Badou Jack.
“I followed all the doctor’s advice and began sparring a couple weeks ago; I guess I need some more time,” Rozicki told BoxingScene of his cautious approach towards returning to the ring. “I will be back stronger than ever in the new year and I will be ready to become the champion of the world in 2026.”
The event will be rescheduled at some point in 2026, though a new date was not yet offered as this goes to publication.
That said, Rozicki will go all of 2025 without having entered the ring for a sanctioned fight.
“Ryan has had a tough go in 2025 but he is still in good spirits,” Daniel Otter, managing director of 3 Lions, told BoxingScene. “He injured his arm in sparring, not as serious as the original injury back in May of this year but he will be sidelined until the new year. We will be announcing a new date in the days to come.
“It’s awful when this happens and I truly sympathize with all the boxers who were competing on the October 25th card. That being said, Ryan will have to wait just a little longer to get back in the ring and he will be the world champion in the new year, mark my words.”
Rozicki’s back-to-back injuries only further stalls plans for his previously overdue mandatory title shot.
A series of postponements and cancellations on the part of then-WBC 200lbs titleholder Noel Mikaelyan saw the latter relieved of his title reign and Rozicki eventually fight for the interim title last December. Fittingly to his run of bad luck, it resulted in a hard-fought draw with fellow top contender Yamil Peralta in their rematch last December, also in Sydney.
That night marked his lone fight of 2024, but it came with a silver lining.
Jack – the previous titleholder who was downgraded to “Champion in Recess” – saw his title reign reinstated as he and Mikaelyan functionally traded places. The ruling by the WBC also required Jack to next face Rozicki in a mandatory title fight.
3 Lions originally won the rights to the fight via purse bid hearing. However, Turki Alalshikh’s Riyadh Season group forced its way into the picture and relocated the fight to Saudi Arabia from Canada.
It proved moot to Rozicki, however, once he suffered a torn biceps and was forced to withdraw. He was replaced by Mikaelyan, who was considered unlucky to land on the wrong end of a majority decision in their May 3 bout.
The WBC agreed with that assessment; while not outright calling it a robbery, the sanctioning body approved a request from Mikaelyan for an immediate rematch. Bash Boxing won the rights to the fight via purse bid but have not yet announced a fight date or location.
Rozicki is eventually due the winner of that fight – or a direct shot at Jack for the title, should the bout end in a draw or No-Contest.
“I’m still going to get that WBC world title belt,” Rozicki insisted
