Tim Tszyu suffers devastating first loss to Sebastian Fundora in Las Vegas
A win against Sebastian Fundora in Las Vegas could have seen Tim Tszyu lock in the biggest payday in Australian boxing history against Terence Crawford — but that now seems unlikely. VIDEO: Brendan Bradford and Jamie Pandaram break down the fight.
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Terence Crawford has rubbed salt in Tim Tszyu’s sizeable wound, telling the Aussie he must now “work his way back to the top” if ‘The Soul Taker’ ever wants to fight him.
Tszyu was still hopeful of landing a mega-money fight with the pound-for-pound king despite his bloody split-decision loss to Sebastian Fundora.
“We’ll bounce back. I showed up, I always show up no matter what,” Tszyu said of the late-notice world title blockbuster. “I was given one week, no excuses.
“I’ll fight whoever whenever. Errol Spence is here. Even Terence Crawford, I’ll fight him.”
A win could have seen Tszyu lock in the biggest payday in Australian boxing history against Crawford.
The longtime welterweight world champion already announced his move to 154-pounds, and is now the WBO mandatory for Fundora.
But a Crawford-Tszyu bout now seems unlikely.
“You lost sir you gotta work yo way back up,” Crawford tweeted.
You lost sir gotta work yo way back up
— Terence Crawford (@terencecrawford) March 31, 2024
Meanwhile, Errol Spence, who had also been mentioned as a potential opponent for Tszyu, already confronted Fundora in the ring.
“It’s time to get it on,” he said. “You’ve got the big dog now, let’s go.”
If Tim Tszyu won the final round on Sutherland’s scorecard, he would have pulled out a draw. Amazing fight wasn’t stopped with how bad Tszyu’s vision was due to that cut, but credit to Fundora for executing a disciplined game plan and fighting through some bad cuts of his own. pic.twitter.com/DZW58ccdmB
— Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) March 31, 2024
Tszyu’s American takeover was washed away in a river of his own blood after Sebastian Fundora smashed him in the head with an elbow in their world title blockbuster in Las Vegas.
The blinded, bloodied Aussie put on one of Australian sport’s most heroic performances to last 12 rounds, but lost a heart breaking split decision.
The ringside scores were 116-112 for Tszyu, and 116-112 and 115-113 in Fundora’s favour.
Tszyu admitted he was blind from the third round on.
“I told everyone, I’m an old throwback fighter,” he said. “These things happen.
“The momentum was rolling, I was swinging hard in the first two rounds, then boom I was blinded completely.
“This is boxing it happens.”
After an impressive first five and a half minutes, Tszyu leapt into Fundora’s left elbow at the end of the second round.
The blow opened a massive gash on Tszyu’s head, with blood flowing down his face and into his eyes.
He spent the next 10 rounds wiping a mask of red away from his left eye as his corner was unable to stop the blood.
White towels his team had in the corner were drenched red, and sodden with blood. Midway through the seventh round, Tszyu’s doctor, Bill Anseline, was seen sprinting away from the ring towards the backstage area.
Tim Tszyu has had 10 stitches to fix the ghastly cut he suffered.
— Jamie Pandaram (@JamiePandaram) March 31, 2024
📸 PBC pic.twitter.com/vUreW59hpx
He needed to find a miracle, because Tszyu was fighting blind.
Meanwhile, Fundora – whose nose was busted in the very first round – just jabbed Tszyu’s left eye. It’s all he needed to do to keep the Aussie at bay.
Despite Fundora’s activity, Tszyu remained dangerous, but was reduced to flailing away with leaping left hooks and hopeful rights.
Despite the sheer amount of blood he lost, Tszyu somehow managed to fight until the final.
Despite the devastating result, Tszyu still gave a hopeful call out to Terence Crawford and Errol Spence.
“We’ll bounce back. I showed up, I always show up no matter what,” he said. “I was given one week, no excuses.
“I’ll fight whoever whenever. Errol Spence is here. Even Terence Crawford, I’ll fight him.”
As Tszyu left the arena though, Spence entered the ring and challenged Fundora.
“It’s time to get it on,” he said. “You’ve got the big dog now, let’s go.”
Tszyu was immediately taken backstage and stitched up by medicos. He won’t be transported to hospital.
The result rounds out a horror weekend for Australian fighters in America, with Liam Wilson being knocked out by Oscar Valdez in Arizona in a super-featherweight world title war. On Tszyu’s undercard, Michael Zerafa was battered by veteran Cuban Erislandy Lara in the second round of their WBA middleweight world title fight.
2:43: RESULTS ARE IN
Tim Tszyu loses a split decision!
115-113 Fundora
116-112 Tszyu
116-112 Fundora
2:39: ROUND 12 Tszyu v Fundora- FIGHT OVER
A desperate Tszyu hunts Fundora, throws wildly. The crowd is on its feet at what they’re seeing. The final bell sounds. Tszyu and Fundora touch gloves and embrace. The bloodiest fight in Aussie boxing history is over.
2:35: ROUND 11 Tszyu v Fundora
The crowd rises up in chants of ‘Timmy, Timmy, Timmy’. Tszyu lands another great left hook. But every time he lands, Fundora answers with at least two of his own. Somehow, we’re going to the 12th round.
2:31: ROUND 10 Tszyu v Fundora
Tszyu whacks him with a right! A left to the body! Fundora is hurt.
But survives. Tszyu lands with a big right uppcercut. But every time he gets inside he moves back again.
This is ridiculous. This fight needs to be stopped. The amount of blood being lost is dangerous. #TszyuFundora
— Billy Dib (@BillyDib) March 31, 2024
2:27: ROUND 9 Tszyu v Fundora
Tszyu lands a big leaping left hook. Fundora’s limitations are really on show. Most other fighters at the top of the division would have stopped a one-eyed man by now. Tszyu looks like he’s using his left to paw at Fundora because he can’t see where he is. Although Fundora is landing plenty of jabs, somehow, Tszyu seems the more dangerous fighter. He only needs one shot to stop it - like Brian Mendoza did.
2:24: ROUND 8 Tszyu v Fundora
Another round and more blood. How much blood can he lose before it starts getting dangerous. They can go through 10 tubs of Vaso, it ain’t gonna stop this bleeding. Tszyu is still dangerous with his right hand though. He just can’t see where to aim it.
2:20: ROUND 7 Tszyu v Fundora
This is crazy. Tszyu is blind, fighting on pure heart and instinct. Dr Bill Anseline has just sprinted out from Tszyu’s corner, away from the ring and backstage. He better find a miracle wherever he’s gone.
2:16: ROUND 6 Tszyu v Fundora
Tszyu’s always aid he’s old school, and this is a straight up throwback fight. Tszyu has hurt Fundora a few times this round, with the crowd getting into it. Fundora might be able to win this just by jabbing a blinded Tszyu. Doctor’s looking at the cut, but he lets it go.
2:12: ROUND 5 Tszyu v Fundora
Tszyu stalks Fundora, who lands his left, adding it to his jab. Tszyus’ lunging with left hooks. A couple of them have landed though! They’ve both got blood all over them, with Fundora’s nose looking busted.
2:07: ROUND 4 Tszyu v Fundora
Fundora just works his jab again. Tszyu’s cut bleeds again, the Vaseline didn’t stem the flow of blood. This is dire for Tszyu, who needs to find a way to finish this fight, otherwise the doctor will stop it. Tszyu, normally so composed, so measured, has been reduced to swinging wildly through the blood in his eyes.
This Tim Tszyu vs Fundora fight is a MESS 🤯
— 🇳🇬🇵🇷🔱 RicoFrmDaWoods (@RicoFrmDaWoods) March 31, 2024
THIS IS BOXING pic.twitter.com/U7LAuiZo3P
2:03: ROUND 3 Tszyu v Fundora
There’s blood all over Tszyu’s head, and must be interfering with his eyesight. He’s wiping it away. This is bad.
Fundora’s jabbing at Tszyu’s left eye, where he can’t see.
Fundora rattles Tszyu! Fundora’s jab is landing every time and Tszyu’s in trouble. He can’t see. Tszyu is blind in there, but keeps swinging. They’ll need to perform a miracle to stop the blood and have the fight continue. Mark Gambin is covering the cut with Vaseline in between rounds.
2:00: TSZYU CUT
Tszyu has a BAD cut on his head though. Likely from an elbow. It’s pouring blood. The ringside doctor is having a look at this. It’s an AWFUL cut, oozing blood. They’re letting this continue.
1:59: ROUND 2 Tszyu v Fundora
Tszyu is gauging Fundora’s jab, looking for a way in. The Aussie’s right is so dangerous - either straight or slightly looping. But the southpaw Fundora has power in his left hand as well. Two rights snap Fundora’s head back! Tszyu goes to the body, Fundora backing up. Great round for Tszyu. Fundora’s nose is BLEEDING.
1:56: ROUND 1 Tszyu v Fundora
It’s been said a hundred times this week, but the height difference is a shock every time I see it. Fundora jabs well early. Tszyu’s first shot is a right towards the head, but starts working the body too. The Aussie lands a BIG right to Fundora’s head with a minute to go. It’s Fundora’s business versus Tszyu’s power so far.
1:52: FIGHT STARTED
The opening bell has sounded and we’re underway at T-Mobile Arena!! 12 rounds for the WBO and WBC super welterweight world titles.
1:47: TSZYU STEPS OUT
Tim Tszyu makes his ringwalk for the biggest fight of his life, stepping out to DMX.
1:44 MAIN EVENT TIME!
Sebastian Fundora is making his ring walk right now.
1:23: STUNNING KO SEES TITLE CHANGE HANDS
Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz lived up to his nickname with a devastating eighth round knockout of Rolando Romero to claim the WBA super lightweight world title.
A dogged Cruz dominated the eccentric Romero, handing ‘Rolly’ just his second professional loss.
‘Pitbull’ had Romero on wobbly legs several times during the fight, before three brutal left hooks forced referee Tom Taylor to stop it.
It was a typically ruthless performance from the Mexican fan favourite, who walked to the ring with a mariachi band.
1:09: COULD NIKITA TSZYU BE ZERAFA’S NEXT OPPONENT?
It’s a bitter blow for Zerafa who waited 18 months to get the world title fight. Boxing politics and poor management kept him out of the ring since a decision win over Danilo Creati in November 2022.
There are already talks that Zerafa could be a future opponent for Nikita Tszyu, who is currently the Australian super-welterweight champion.
The punch stats tell a grim tale of Zerafa’s first world title bout.
The 32-year-old landed just 11 of the 69 punches he threw in the six minutes the fight lasted.
Lara connected with 24 total punches, including a 12 first-round jabs.
The Cuban connected with five power shots in the second round, including the devastating knockout blow.
12:36: LARA CLAIMS WBA MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLE
Australia’s “most hated boxer” Michael Zerafa has been knocked senseless by Erislandy Lara in their WBA middleweight world title showdown.
Zerafa was stitched up with a pre-fight tale of the tape graphic labelling him the country’s most hated boxer, and was left flat on his back by the classy Lara in the closing moments of the second round.
A wily Cuban veteran, Lara evaded a lunging Zerafa just as the 10 second warning sounded.
The 40-year-old southpaw rattled the Melbournian with a short right, and sent him tumbling backwards to the mat with a big left.
Zerafa managed to get back to his feet, but shrugged his head in resignation as he stumbled backwards into the corner post.
The official time of the stoppage was 2:59 of the second round.
Lara was a level above for as long as the bout lasted, leaving Zerafa marked up around his face from his very first jabs.
Zerafa, who had former world champion Nonito Donaire and his wife Rachel, in his corner, was aggressive in the second, but couldn’t land anything.
The crowd even booed the lack of action before Lara ensured an early finish to the fight.
The result leaves Aussie boxers 0-2 in world title tilts this weekend after Liam Wilson lost a war to Oscar Valdez.
12:29: ZERAFA KO’D
Round Two: The crowd boos the lack of action. Lara is winning the round with jabs alone, and tags Zerafa on the counter whenever they get close. ZERAFA HAS BEEN KNOCKED OUT. A massive one-two at the very end of the second round sends Zerafa crumpling to the canvas. He gets to his feet, but stumbles backwards into the corner post and the fight ends.
12:27PM: ROUND 1 Zerafa v Lara
Round One: After getting short-changed on the graphic, Zerafa copped a series of early jabs, leaving his face marked as Lara won the opening round.
12:18PM: ‘AUSTRALIA’S MOST HATED BOXER COPS BROADCAST SLEDGE
Australia’s Michael Zerafa and Cuban veteran Erislandy Lara are in the ring ahead of their WBA middleweight world title fight. Opening bell just moments away!
Zerafa has been stitched up on the broadcast. The graphic showing his record, age and weight had an extra line added at the bottom: “Voted Australia’s most hated boxer.”
12:10PM: MARTINEZ WINS FIGHT OF THE NIGHT CONTENDER
Mexico turns out as Martinez wins fight of the night contender
Julio Cesar Martinez defended his WBC flyweight world title with a fight of the night, majority decision win over Angelino Cordova.
There might have been a riot had the Mexican fan favourite Martinez not been given the nod.
Martinez dropped Cordova twice in the third round, and looked moments away from stopping Cordova in the fifth.
The undefeated Cordova fought back in the second half of the fight though, cutting Martinez, and even putting on an Ali Shuffle in the eighth.
An eighth-round head-butt cut Martinez and threatened to stop the fight, prompting the rowdy Mexican crowd to turn against Venezuelan Cordova.
The win capped off a phenomenally good 19 hours for trainer Eddy Reynoso.
Reynoso, who also trains Canelo Alvarez, was in Glendale Arizona less than 24 hours earlier, guiding Oscar Valdez to an interim WBO super-featherweight win over Liam Wilson.
11:57: THE MAN OF THE MOMENT ARRIVED
Australia’s Tim Tszyu has arrived at the venue for #TszyuFundorapic.twitter.com/lYId7Zy2Gf
— Ben Damon (@ben_damon) March 31, 2024
11:40AM: MEANWHILE IN THE UFC...
Meanwhile, for any UFC fans out there, Sydney’s Jacob Malkoun just scored a bizarre second round TKO win over Andre Petroski in Atlantic City.
In strange scenes – which is becoming common for Malkoun – Petroski seemed to have nearly knocked himself out by head-butting Malkoun’s hip while attempting a takedown.
Andre Petroski knocks himself out by hitting Jacob Malkoun’s hip 😳 pic.twitter.com/3Z3nkrGJYl
— MMA Mania (@mmamania) March 30, 2024
The Aussie finished the job with a body kick moments later.
While the fight world was left stunned by the apparent takedown knockout, Malkoun’s coach just messaged me a video that shows a short jab landing on Petroski’s head before he clatters into ‘Mamba’.
“Not crazy, it was a jab,” he said. “Look at the hair moving”
10:55AM: BOHACHUK SHATTERS LA BALA’S JAW – WHICH IS BAD NEWS FOR TIM TSZYU
Serhii Bohuchuk is a problem. And that problem could be headed Tim Tszyu’s way sooner or later.
Big, powerful and awkward, Bohachuk just battered Tszyu’s most recent opponent, Brian Mendoza, breaking ‘La Bala’s’ jaw on the way to a one-sided unanimous decision.
Mendoza is sickeningly tough. Had a grotesquely broken jaw for most of that fight and never stopped swinging. Bohachuck is a very dangerous 154 pounder pic.twitter.com/B1oEN2n8fn
— cody kaye (@Cody_KayeFOX) March 30, 2024
In doing so, the Ukrainian becomes the WBC interim super-featherweight world champion, with the sanctioning body likely to order a unification bout between him and the winner of today’s main event.
Bohachuk’s win was so dominant that questions were being asked about why Mendoza’s corner didn’t throw in the towel in the later rounds.
He looked to have broken his jaw around the seventh or eighth round, and ended the fight with a grotesquely swollen face.
But, proving he’s one of the toughest fighters in the division, Mendoza had Bohachuk hurt in the 11th with a big right uppercut, and desperately looked for a late finish into the 12th. Although he fell short, La Bala received a standing ovation from the T-Mobile Arena crowd.
Bohachuck immediately called out the winner of today’s main event.
“Next, maybe Fundora, maybe Tszyu,” he said. “I want the best. I want a world champion.
“I’m a world champion and I want to stay a world champion.
“I want the world champion. Next fight, I want the world champion - who wins this fight, let’s go.”
9:55AM: MENDOZA’S TURN NOW
Next up, we’ve got Brian ‘La Bala’ Mendoza taking on Serhei Bohachuk for the interim WBC super-welterweight belt.
Mendoza is an Aussie fan favrouite after winning over thousands of fans when he went 12 rounds with Tszyu on the Gold Coast in October.
He wasn’t on the card 12 days ago, but was preparing as a back-up fighter.
When Keith Thurman pulled out, Fundora - who was was supposed to fight Bohuchuk - was elevated to the main event, Mendoza stepped in.
As for how the WBC can have an interim super-welterweight world title fight when the full 154-pound title is on the line in the main event of the same card...well, best not to ask too many hard questions.
🥊 MICHEAL ZERAFA vs TEAM TSZYU 🥊
— CODE Combat (@codecombatau) March 28, 2024
They were supposed to fight in 2021, but Zerafa pulled out due to concerns over travelling during Covid.
They’ve been going at it ever since.
Inside some of the most infamous feuds in Australian boxing âž¡ï¸ https://t.co/Q8R5D9CM1apic.twitter.com/6SrPMFTklp
9:45AM: FUTURE WORLD CHAMP CURMEL MOTON IN SLUGFEST
Curmel Moton: remember the name.
The 17-year-old super-featherweight sensation, and future world champion, just completely obliterated Anthony Cuba in the first televised fight of the afternoon.
Only Cuba’s chin saved him from being stopped, as Moton won a lopsided unanimous decision with scores of 80-72 on all three cards.
Moton is a protégé of Floyd Mayweather, who was spotted by the ‘TBE’ at the age of just 11. He has trained alongside knockout artist Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis, and shares fight styles with both of his mentors.
Moton was spotted in the ring Facetiming Mayweather immediately after the decision was announced.
“He just told me he was proud of me,” Moton said. “He said I looked great and we’ll be back in the gym on Monday.”
Moton had Cuba hurt in the final 20 seconds of the opening round, and stepped up his attack in the second.
His impressive body work took its toll in the third, with Cuba forced to drop his hands before getting tagged in the head.
Defensively, Moton fights at a level well above his three pro bouts, clearly showing what he’s learned from Mayweather and Davis.
He proved he could slug it out in the fifth too, trading on the inside with the rugged Cuba.
“Respect to Cuba, he’s a fell of a fighter, he was able to trade with me in the final through rounds,” he said. “It was a hell of an experience.”
PREVIEW: ‘Better than Kostya’: How Tim can become the greatest Tszyu
Peter Badel
Tim Tszyu will become better than his legendary father Kostya as Australia’s world champion vowed not to crumble under the pressure of his Las Vegas debut.
Tszyu 2.0 faces the biggest test of his career on Sunday when he takes on the ‘Towering Inferno’, 197cm giant Sebastian Fundora, in a two-belt, super welterweight world-title blockbuster at T-Mobile Arena.
And Tszyu’s inner-sanctum believe victory over Fundora (20-1-1, 13KO) will put the 29-year-old Sydneysider on a path to achieving what was once thought impossible - being better than king Kostya.
Tszyu Senior is regarded alongside Jeff Fenech as Australia’s greatest boxer, a Hall of Famer who became the undisputed super lightweight champion of the three-belt era when he clobbered Zab Judah in 2001.
Kostya’s win over Judah was at the MGM Grand, just 700 metres from T-Mobile Arena, where his son Tim will look to launch his “American takeover” in emphatic style by flooring Fundora.
Kostya lost just two fights in a glittering 33-fight professional career, but as Tim (24-0, 17KO) chases a 25th consecutive victory, Team Tszyu is adamant the ‘Soul Taker’ will be the best fighter Australia has ever produced.
“I believe he will become Australia’s greatest ever boxer,” said Tszyu’s promoter George Rose as Tim made weight without a drama in Vegas on Saturday afternoon.
“It’s a big statement but I actually think Tim will surpass his father.
“He will become the pound-for-pound champion of the world. I believe he is on track to be the greatest fighter on the planet and then the Tszyu family will be the greatest fighting family in the history of the sport.
“Within the next six months, a fight with Terence Crawford is a serious option and if beats Crawford, Tim would be the first Australian to be pound-for-pound champion of the world.
“No Australian has come close to being the pound-for-pound king, not even Jeff Fenech or Kostya Tszyu.
“We know Tim still has to get the runs on the board, but the legacy he is creating at the moment is real.
“If he beats Fundora, he will go into the top echelon where there’s fights with Canelo (Alvarez), Crawford and (Errol) Spence all on the table.”
Some boxers are overwhelmed by the bright lights and significance of fighting in Vegas. Not Tszyu. He is revelling in it. Three-and-a-half years after stopping Jeff Horn to become the new poster boy of Australian boxing, Tszyu says he has outgrown the domestic scene and is ready to conquer America.
It starts with Fundora, a six-foot-six man mountain with frighteningly long limbs and a 203cm reach.
The 175cm Tszyu is facing the biggest height differential, 22cm, in boxing history for a non-heavyweight bout. He couldn’t care less.
“I’m going to take his head off,” Tszyu said, undeterred by Fundora towering over him at the weigh in.
“I belong now. I feel right at home here. Vegas is where I wanted to be and I’m fitting right in.
“I needed to get outside my comfort zone. I was comfortable in Australia. Here, naturally I’m a little bit more uncomfortable, but it’s a good thing, it’s giving me that extra edge.
“I’m feeling better than ever, I swear. I feel like destiny awaits on Sunday.
“No-one knows the power I have until they get hit by me. He (Fundora) is next on the hit list.”
Today's the day!
— CODE Combat (@codecombatau) March 30, 2024
All the build-up to Tim Tszyu's date with destiny 👉 https://t.co/vkdT5MnbLK
🎨 @BooBaileyTele
#TszyuFundorapic.twitter.com/su4QadBkmB
Tim’s manager Glen Jennings has had a 30-year association with the Tszyu family. He was part of Kostya’s rise to greatness and few have been at the coalface of the Tszyu pugilists like Jennings.
Two years ago, the thought of Tim usurping Kostya seemed nonsensical. But Jennings says Tim possesses a competitive fire not even his Russia-born father could muster.
“I honestly believe Tim has more hunger than his dad,” he said.
“I used to think his father was the perfect boxer, but time will tell if Tim can be better.
“Kostya had a wonderful career at the top for 10 years, and Tim is in his prime. I think he can have another seven years of dominance and then it’s game over.
“It’s a different era now in boxing.
“In Kostya’s day, he didn’t have a lot of fights, he had 33 fights over a dozen years.
“Tim has had 25 fights at age 29, so if he stays as busy as he does and his health is good, if he has three fights a year for another seven years, that takes Tim to 46 fights.
“Tim to me is already hungrier than Kostya.
“The minute he finishes one fight, he says right, what’s next, what are the dates, this is before he gets on the plane for another vacation, he wants to plan everything.
“I do believe that Tim will go on to become a multi-division champion.
“Kostya stayed in his division, he ruled it for 10 years, that’s hard to emulate, but Tim will get bigger and eventually go up to middleweight and dominate there.
“Kostya didn’t mind a break between fights, he was more mellow about it. Tim is the opposite. He is a machine.”
While Tszyu doesn’t seem fazed by the height differential, Jennings is wary of the Fundora threat and the Towering Inferno’s desire to burn down the Australia’s Vegas party.
“Fundora’s height for anyone is a problem,” he said.
“But it’s also the awkwardness and the length of Fundora’s arms and the ability to get underneath him, that’s the difficult part for Tim.
“Fundora has long legs so when steps around the ring, he will take two steps and four from Tim to catch him.
“His distance is a whole new world for Tim.
“He will have his long arms extended across Tim’s face, it’s a huge ask.
“But every challenge Tim faces, he steps up and delivers.”
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