Tszyu insists his options are still wide open despite Sunday’s Las Vegas loss

After a gallant, but bloody loss at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Tim Tszyu wants another chance to defeat the man they call the ‘Towering Inferno’, Sebastian Fundora.

Tim Tszyu battled through the blood pouring off his head against Sebastian Fundora. Picture: Steve Marcus/Getty Images

Tim Tszyu wants a rematch with Sebastian Fundora, but believes he’s still a big enough draw to lock in fights with Terence Crawford and Errol Spence.

The massive cut on Tszyu’s head was still seeping blood through the 10 stitches he’d just received when he said he wants to get his WBO title back.

“Of course I would,” he said of a rematch with Fundora. “He’s got my belt now.

“I’ll have a two week rest, then I’ll get back to the gym. I want to fight the best. I want to make the mega-fights happen.

“I want the biggest fights. I’m still chasing them, I’m still at the top of the tree.

“This ain’t no setback. I still belong under these lights and I’m still going to reach what I intended to start.”

But his immediate future remains unclear.

Fundora is the new unified super-welterweight world champion. Crawford is the WBO mandatory, and Spence confronted Fundora in the ring in Vegas to organise a fight.

Tim Tszyu’s first career loss. Picture: No Limit Boxing

Crawford and Spence both clearly fancy their chances against Fundora, and argued with each other on social media later on about who gets first crack.

Crawford rubbed salt in 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.

Despite the result, Tszyu remains a much more dangerous opponent for Crawford and Spence than Fundora will ever be.

And he no longer has a world title belt to use as leverage.

It was an absolute bloodbath in Las Vegas. Picture: Getty Images

Tszyu has a rematch clause to fight Fundora again, but The Towering Inferno’s promoter Sampson Lewkowicz – who has been labelled ‘The Weasel’ by Tszyu this week – is already trying to get out of it.

“There’s a verbal rematch clause, and I believe the promoter needs to maximise the income of the fighter,” he said.

“Most likely he will have to wait one fight at least, recoup himself – Tszyu – then maybe we can do it again.

“It will be in America. First of all, we need to take care of business.”

For Lewkowicz and Fundora, taking care of business undoubtedly means big-money fights with Crawford or Spence.

An accidental elbow to the head cut Tszyu early. Picture: Getty Images

Tszyu’s promoter, George Rose, is adamant Fundora won’t be able to escape a rematch, and No Limit will make a decision this week on when they’ll enact a rematch clause.

“He knows there’s a rematch clause and if we want to take it, we’ll take it,” Rose said. “I’m happy for a rematch to happen next, and good luck trying to get out of it.

“There is a timeline, and we’ll have a discussion over the next two days about when we’ll activate it.”

Rose admitted that fights with Crawford and Spence are now a lot harder to make.

“It definitely affects the schedule,” he said. “Everything we’ve planned for this year, has to be rejigged.

“There’s now another fight for Tim to consider.”

Tszyu had been planning on an American takeover, and is adamant about fighting in Las Vegas next, but his next fight could be back in Australia.

“That’s still up in the air,” Rose said. “We’ve been able to put on great shows back in Australia.

“The opportunity to fight here in Las Vegas, we’re excited about. We’d love to come back again.”

Originally published as Tszyu insists his options are still wide open despite Sunday’s Las Vegas loss