Tim Tszyu enlists two of America’s tallest fighters to help bring down Sebastian Fundora

They are two of America’s tallest fighters and they have joined forces with Tim Tszyu to help the Australian bring down Sebastian Fundora in Las Vegas.

They are the American twin towers committing the equivalent of boxing treason to help Tim Tszyu pull off a world-title miracle.

United States-born tall timbers Mykal Fox and Ardreal Holmes Jr have answered a $10,000 SOS against their own countryman, Sebastian Fundora, in Tszyu’s bid to extinguish the ‘Towering Inferno’ in their world-title blockbuster on Sunday week.

Tszyu’s preparations were thrown into chaos on Monday when his opponent Keith Thurman sensationally withdrew with a bicep injury, thrusting him into a two-belt bout with human skyscraper Fundora at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.

At 197cm, and boasting a 203cm reach, Fundora (20-1-1, 13KO) is one of the tallest pugilists on the planet. He is 26cm taller than Thurman, 22cm taller than Tszyu (24-0, 17KO) and has a gargantuan 24cm reach advantage over the Australian super welterweight world champion.

The height differential forced Team Tszyu to launch a “worldwide search” for sparring partners capable of replicating Fundora’s size and style at southpaw.

Enter Fox and Holmes Jr.

After frenzied phone calls to 14 countries in 24 hours and sifting through more than 30 potential sparring partners, the Tszyu camp found two big boppers on American soil willing to help the son of Kostya finish Fundora.

Tim Tszyu spars with Mykal Fox and Ardreal Holmes.

‘The Professor’ Fox (22-4, 5KO) is a 28-year-old behemoth from Baltimore who stands 193cm with a 206cm reach. ‘Bossman’ Holmes Jr (15-0, 6KO), a 29-year-old Michigan man mountain at 188cm and with a reach of 189cm, is unbeaten at super welterweight.

The dynamic duo jetted into Sin City on Monday and will mimic Fundora in two crucial sparring sessions over the next two days to sharpen Tszyu’s eye for the toughest test of his career.

“We’re very thankful we were able to find two local Americans who were prepared to help us,” said Tszyu’s manager Glen Jennings.

“It’s been a stressful few days trying to find some sparring partners capable of getting Tim ready for Fundora.

“It’s hard to explain to people how risky this fight has suddenly become for Tim.

“I’ve spoken to some boxing experts over here and they said they don’t know any other fighter in the world who would take a risk like this - to go from a fighting a five-foot eight orthodox opponent to a six-foot six southpaw in the space of 12 days.

“It meant we needed a total reset. We needed new sparring partners.

“I said to my contact, ‘Do a worldwide search, we need two six-foot-four basketball-type players who are southpaws that can actually fight’.

“He narrowed it down to those that are active and available and looked at guys with decent records. There’s not many six foot four-plus pro fighters in the world, let alone guys in the two weight classes (super welterweight and middleweight).

“Thankfully we got it done. They are credentialled boxers.

“Mykal is the taller of the two and looks just like Sebastian Fundora.”

Tim Tszyu has just 12 days to prepare for the hulking 197cm Sebastian Fundora. Picture: Getty Image. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

It is understood the American pair’s hit-and-run mission will cost around $10,000, but it’s money well spent to ensure Tszyu is not exposed by Fundora in his Vegas debut.

There are fears Fundora’s height will overwhelm the much-smaller Tszyu, but Jennings says Fox and Holmes Jr have already experienced the Sydneysider’s class and precision in their first sparring session.

“Tim’s ability is incredible,” he said. “He was sparring these giants and working them and had them guessing.

“I spoke to both the boys (Fox and Holmes Jr) afterwards and they said, ‘F*** he is sharp.

“They were really impressed by Tim’s eye and how quickly he could make the switch in height.

“I would think Tim only has two more sparring sessions because then we are into fight week.

Fundora (left) towers over Australian Daniel Lewis, who beat Tim Tszyu as an amateur. Picture: AFP

“Tim needs to reassimilate quickly and get the feeling of having someone so tall in front of him, so Mykal and Ardreal have been wonderful additions.”

Jennings admits he is nervous about the Fundora threat but is confident Tszyu will chalk up a 25th consecutive victory.

“Fundora’s height for anyone is certainly problematic,” he said.

“It’s the reach advantage Fundora has and somehow getting to his body.

“He is so tall he can take two steps to get around the ring whereas Tim will need three or four steps.

“This is a difficult and dangerous fight, no doubt about that. In the speed in which this has happened, it’s been overlooked how dangerous this is for Tim, but he steps up to every challenge thrown at him and he will do it again.”

Originally published as Tim Tszyu enlists two of America’s tallest fighters to help bring down Sebastian Fundora