UNIFIED super-welterweight world champion Sebastian Fundora claimed the WBC and WBO titles with a shock split-decision win over Tim Tszyu last March, but the imposing southpaw has made just one title defence since.
Now, following news that Fundora wishes to pursue a rematch with Tszyu, the 27-year-old Floridian is set to be stripped of his WBO strap for failing to fulfil his obligation of facing the mandatory challenger.
Coming into the bout off the back of a devastating knockout defeat to Brian Mendoza, Fundora, 22-1-1 (14 KOs), stepped up as a late-notice replacement for Keith Thurman, 31-1 (23 KOs), to challenge reigning WBO champion Tszyu, 25-2 (18 KOs), as a sizeable underdog – with the vacant WBC crown also on the line.
With the aid of an early cut to the champion, the unconventional ‘Towering Inferno’ proved too difficult a a puzzle for Tszyu to solve, as Fundora scored an upset win via split-decision in a bloodied war.
Since then, Tszyu’s 2024 worsened with a catastrophic third-round stoppage defeat against IBF champion Bakhram Murtazaliev but ‘The Soul Taker’ got back to winning ways with a knockout win of his own against Joey Spencer earlier this month.
Meanwhile, Fundora ended a one-year spell of inactivity by dispatching of Chordale Booker in just four rounds last month, as the tallest active world titleholder in the sport proved himself to be more than a gimmick and worthy of his status as a champion with a first title defence.
After being expected to take on WBO mandatory challenger Xander Zayas, 21-0 (13 KOs), Boxing Scene’s Lance Pugmire reported yesterday that Fundora had pulled out of Friday’s purse bids in favour of a rematch with Tszyu – who has reportedly triggered a rematch clause for the contest.
Consequently, it is expected that Fundora will be stripped of the WBO super-welterweight world title in the coming hours, with Zayas poised to take on Jorge Garcia for the vacant title in the near future.
Finally, after Tszyu had been expected to face Keith Thurman in Australia this summer, Ring Magazine reports that ‘One Time’ will instead get a shot at the victor of Fundora-Tszyu II and therefore the WBC super-welterweight world title.
