Tim Tszyu linked to fight on Manny Pacquiao card at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas
The rematch between Tim Tszyu and Sebastian Fundora just got even bigger with a boxing superstar set to be the co-main event in the United States.
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In a massive coup for Australian boxing, Tim Tszyu’s rematch with Sebastian Fundora is speculated to be a co-main event alongside boxing superstar and all-time great Manny Pacquiao at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas in one of the biggest cards of the year.
Official confirmation of the July 19 fight is expected over the coming days.
Multiple sources have confirmed the fight is likely to be a co-main event to 46-year-old Pacquiao’s first fight in four years against WBC welterweight world champion Mario Barrios.
No Limit boss George Rose refused to confirm the bout on Thursday.
“We’re focused on Fundora and waiting for an official announcement on that rematch,” Rose said.
“Manny Pacquiao is an absolute legend of the sport, and we’d love to have Tim involved if Pacquiao does fight.
“Pacquiao’s been one of the greatest, most entertaining and best supported fighters of our generation.”
T-Mobile Arena has become the home of big-time boxing in Las Vegas, but Lady Gaga is performing at the venue on the same night, meaning the spiritual home of boxing in Sin City – the MGM Grand – will likely host the event.
It’s where many of the biggest fights of the 1990s and 2000s were held, including Pacquiao’s Fight of the Century against Floyd Mayweather in 2015.
Pacquiao and Barrios both have links to Australia.
The Filipino legend lost a war to Brisbane schoolteacher Jeff Horn in one of boxing’s great boilovers in Brisbane in 2017.
Horns’ victory kicked off a golden age in Aussie boxing that still continues today.
One of the highest paid and most highly decorated boxers in history, eight division world champion Pacquiao hasn’t fought since a narrow decision defeat to Yordenis Ugas in 2021, but is coming out of his semi-retirement for one last hurrah.
Barrios, who most recently fought to a world title draw with Abel Ramos on the Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul undercard, spent a week on the Gold Coast when his best mate, Brian Mendoza, fought Tszyu in 2023.
The 29-2-1 world champion revealed to this masthead that week that he was inspired to take up boxing after watching Jeff Fenech VHS tapes, and the pair had a heart-warming meeting during fight week.
Meanwhile, Nikita Tszyu’s return has once again been delayed.
‘The Butcher’ was tipped for a comeback in May, before that was pushed back to June.
It can now be confirmed that the younger Tszyu brother won’t be seen inside the ring until August at the earliest.
Tszyu needed surgery on an injured hand after the fight of the year win over Koen Mazoudier last August.
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Originally published as Tim Tszyu linked to fight on Manny Pacquiao card at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas
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