Tim Tszyu v Sebastian Fundora: Questions raised about how bloody fight was allowed to continue

Tim Tszyu’s gruesome defeat to Sebastian Fundora should never have gone to the scorecards, according to one of the most respected cutmen in Australian boxing.

Jeff Horn’s former cutman believes the Tim Tszyu-Sebastian Fundora bloodbath should have been stopped, describing the braveheart Australian’s gash as one of the worst he has seen in 46 years in boxing.

Steve Edwards is one of Australian boxing’s most experienced cutmen, having served in 13 world-title fights spanning six countries – including Horn’s famous victory over Manny Pacquiao at Suncorp Stadium in 2017.

Edwards, who has operated in more than 2000 bouts in his 10-year tenure as a specialist cutman, slammed American reports that the Tszyu camp lacked the ointments required to fix the Soul Taker’s gaping wound.

Edwards was the man who kept a bloodied Horn in the contest in his epic upset of Pacquiao with his handiwork and he is adamant the Tszyu-Fundora blockbuster should never have gone to the scorecards.

A no-contest would have seen Tszyu retain his WBO world title and likely trigger a rematch clause for a Fundora return bout in Australia.

Tim Tszyu walks to his corner after the 12-round defeat. Picture: Getty

“That fight should have been stopped and ruled a no-contest,” said Edwards, who will be George Kambosos’ cutman for his world-title bout against Vasiliy Lomachenko in May.

“I thought the referee and the doctor would have seen how bad the wound was and should have stopped the fight at the end of the third because of how much the blood was impeding Tim.

“That’s not for Tim’s corner to do, it was in the hands of the doctor.

“I was surprised they let the fight go on.

“Then it felt like they made a rod for their own back, because from the fourth round there was going to be a result.

“It (Fundora’s elbow to Tszyu’s head) happened right at the end of the second round.

“I would understand them not stopping it then, because it was starting to bleed and they weren’t sure how it would affect him.

Tim Tszyu bled heavily from the end of the second round. Picture: Getty

“But the third round told you everything about how that cut was going to affect Tim’s ability to fight.

“It was clear in the third that Tim was struggling to see Fundora and judge distance.

“His first two rounds, he judged the distance to perfection, but that went out the window.

“Tim’s vision was extremely impaired.

“The fight should have been stopped.”

The Tszyu camp has copped brickbats for their handling of the cut. One American report claimed Team Tszyu lacked the necessary substances to make running repairs to give Tszyu every chance of staving off Fundora.

Tszyu (L) connects with a punch on Fundora late in the fight. Picture: Getty

Edwards says Team Tszyu will learn lessons from one of the rare occasions in which the former world champion has been cut in a fight.

“That was one of the worst I’ve seen,” said 46-year boxing veteran Edwards, who treated 12 cuts to Horn’s face during his blood-and-thunder career.

“This is where I have to defend the Tszyu team.

“There were suggestions they should have used Avitene or Thrombin, which constrict cells and help reduce blood flow, but those substances are banned in Australia.

“To say they had no materials at all, I think that’s theorising.

“In Australia, we use adrenaline on cuts and you could clearly see Tszyu’s corner putting cotton buds into a bottle, which I have no doubt was adrenaline.

Fundora celebrates after being crowned the champion. Picture: No Limit Boxing

“I’m not going to be too harsh on Tszyu’s team because there’s already been a lot of criticism, but I think they will learn from that experience.

“Fixing cuts during a fight is a science. It can be the difference between victory and defeat.

“Looking at Tim’s cut, that’s a very hard cut to stop.

“The cuts from the top of the head to the centre of the forehead, it is very difficult. There is a vein in that region and the blood does pour out. You need to have the right equipment and the right technique.

“The process of cleaning the cut, the pressure you apply, the application of the vaseline mixed with adrenaline, it’s a fine art and you learn it over years and years of working with cuts.

“Tszyu was so brave. Unfortunately that cut changed the whole complexion of the fight.

“I’m confident if Tim never sustained such a large cut, he would have won.”

Tszyu’s manager Glen Jennings defended his team’s handling of the shocking wound.

“The cut was about an inch-and-a-half long, it took 10 stitches,” he said.

“It was very deep, unfortunately it was on the top of the scalp, which is one of the major bleed zones and it’s just impossible to stop.

“It happened in the last second of the round, the corners were already going up, prepared to do their job, but not prepared to stop somebody turning a garden tap on top of your head.

“Tim is a very special athlete. There are very few that can fight 10 rounds with that much blood.

“To be able to perform as he did and to be a one-point swing (with the judges), that’s about as good as it gets.

“It was truly amazing.”

Originally published as Tim Tszyu v Sebastian Fundora: Questions raised about how bloody fight was allowed to continue