THE question marks before Tim Tszyu’s return against Sebastian Fundora centred around whether the Aussie could summon up the elusive grit and pre-fight form he had shown before their damaging first encounter.
‘Towering Inferno’ Fundora ensured his rival had no time to ponder much of anything, dropping Tszyu early and bludgeoning him to such an extent that Tszyu and his corner decided to bail out after seven punishing sessions. It was a definitive conclusion to a rivalry that started in March 2024, with Tszyu a strong favourite. Their career trajectories could not be any more different now.
When referee Harvey Dock enquired as to Tszyu’s wellbeing, the ‘Soul Taker’, slumped on his stool, admitted that he had nothing more to offer. Fundora retained his WBC super-welterweight strap, cementing his status as the top fighter at the weight.
Things could not have started much worse for Tszyu, who was floored in the opener by a thudding left hand. A cut to the eye in round two compounded his misery. “He was just a better man,” conceded Tszyu, 25-3 (18 KOs), refusing to blame the cut for his woes.
It was, of course, a cut that started the trouble way back in their first contest. Fundora’s nose bled profusely that night, and it leaked blood again in round four here.
It was a minor success point for Tim, who could not get past the raking punches delivered from Fundora’s long arms. The southpaw can clearly bang a bit too and doesn’t lack for heart and guts. A lethal concoction of assets. Fundora, 27, was ahead 69-63 on all three scorecards at the conclusion.
Now 23-1-1 (15 KOs), Fundora holds the WBC title and previously held the WBO before being stripped. Xander Zayas boxes Jorge Garcia Perez for that vacant strap next weekend.
The IBF champion is Bakhram Murtazaliev, who battered Tszyu in three rounds just months after the first Tszyu-Fundora clash. A fight between Fundora and Murtazaliev would be an enticing unification spectacle.
Talking of enticing, Vergil Ortiz Jr is the WBC Interim holder at 154 pounds, so he should be in the pecking order for a crack at Fundora, who holds the full belt. Elsewhere, Terence Crawford was the WBA champion, but is moving up to fight Canelo in September. Cuba’s Yoenis Tellez currently holds the WBA Interim belt at the weight.
