Devastated Tim Tszyu insists career isn’t over after Vegas loss

A “devastated” Tim Tszyu insists his career is not over despite his heroic loss to Sebastian Fundora representing a $12 million hammer blow for Australia’s fallen world champion.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 30: WBO junior middleweight champion Tim Tszyu enters the ring for his title defense against Sebastian Fundora at T-Mobile Arena on March 30, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Steve Marcus/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Steve Marcus / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

A “devastated” Tim Tszyu insists his career is not over despite his heroic loss to Sebastian Fundora representing a $12 million hammer blow for Australia’s fallen world champion.

Currently holidaying in Hawaii with his fiancee, Tszyu is adamant his blood-soaked split-decision loss to Fundora last Sunday in Las Vegas has only steeled him in his quest to be the best boxer on the planet.

The defeat to Fundora didn’t just cost Tszyu his WBO world title, it also delivered a hefty blow to his pay packet.

Victory over the ‘Towering Inferno’ would have set up Tszyu for a $US25 million ($38m) super fight against Terence Crawford, who stood to pocket $US15m ($23m), while the Sydneysider would have earned $US10m ($15m) for the biggest bout of his career.

Tim Tszyu insists his career is not over despite the loss to Sebastian Fundora. Picture: Getty Images via AFP)

Tszyu was paid an estimated $3m for his fight against Fundora and a rematch with the American later this year would be worth a similar amount, meaning the price of defeat at T-Mobile Arena was in the vicinity of $12m.

The Tszyu camp insists a signed contract is in place for a Fundora return bout, with his promoter No Limit happy for a rematch on US soil, possibly at New York’s world famous Madison Square Garden.

There is a view a cut-free, blood-free Tszyu would have stopped Fundora inside seven rounds and No Limit boss George Rose says the 29-year-old’s career is far from on the canvas.

“I don’t believe it’s a setback for Tim time wise or career wise,” Rose said.

“If the fights weren’t still there, we would have a different discussion, but the only setback at the moment is recovery time and how that works out.

“Guys like (Errol) Spence and Crawford, and maybe even (Jermell) Charlo, are still options for Tim.

“Once Tim is back in full swing, we will have a clearer idea of the path forward, but the big fights are still there for him.

“Tim is doing fine emotionally.

“He is going through the recovery process and looking forward to getting back home for some rest, then he will be straight back into the gym.

Tim Tszyu suffered the first loss of his 25-fight professional career to Sebastian Fundora. Picture: Getty Images

Despite suffering the first loss of his 25-fight professional career, Tszyu says he has not been psychologically broken, vowing to return a hungrier fighter in his relentless bid to conquer America.

“I will come back bigger and better and stronger. Simple,” Tszyu told Fox’s Main Event as the dust settled on his Sin City bloodbath.

“If I don’t get that win, I’m not satisfied. I was quite devastated to lose.

“But I will be back in the gym soon. I will be back grinding.

“Life gives you some hard times and you just have to make the most of it.

“This ain’t no setback. I still belong under the lights in Vegas.

“I’m still going to reach what I intended to start.”

Tszyu’s manager Glen Jennings said the Soul Taker’s reputation in America has been enhanced, not eroded, by his bravery against Fundora, whose promoter has promised a rematch.

Tim Tszyu was cut badly in his loss to Sebastian Fundora. Picture: Getty Images via AFP

“Tim is still at the elite level and his stocks have gone through the roof after that fight,” Jennings said.

“We’ve copped some criticism (for not stopping the fight), but Tim was never going to give in. He is a warrior. He will never back down from a challenge.

“As a team, we’re doing a full review of the fight and when Tim is ready, we’ll reset and go again.

“Tim has already told me he wants to get back on the big stage in America and take care of business.”

Tszyu required 10 stitches to a gruesome head gash, sustained in the dying seconds of round two after an accidental elbow from Fundora, and admits he expected the fight to be stopped by the doctor.

“In my head, I thought it was the end,” he said.

“I thought, ‘No way will they continue the fight’.

“There was a lot of blood.

“I don’t want to make excuses, but the cut was quite frustrating. As soon as it happened, it was like a fountain. I was like, ‘No way’.

“I couldn’t see anything. It was blurry, just blurriness the whole fight. Everything was working on instinct.

“I could see most of his shots. I was eliminating them all, he was catching me with a few jabs but nothing was really fazing me.”

Sebastian Fundora shakes hands with Tim Tszyu after their title bout in Las Vegas. Picture: No Limit Boxing

Tszyu said he doesn’t want to be seen as a sore loser, but is confident of winning a rematch after having just 12 days to prepare for Fundora following the eleventh-hour withdrawal of injured Keith Thurman.

“It would be better to face him with an eight-week prep,” he said with a laugh.

“It was hard on one week’s notice and I was still able to almost get him (Fundora) out in the first two rounds.

“After every fight, when it goes 12 rounds, I don’t really know the result.

“I always ask Igor (his trainer), ‘Did I win?’ and he told me it could have gone either way.

“I was landing the crispier shots apparently, but he was landing more of the volume punches.

“It is what it is. He came back and he got me by a point and that’s all it took.

“There’s no excuses, he won.

“I now have a trophy for the rest of my life on the top of my head.”

Originally published as Devastated Tim Tszyu insists career isn’t over after Vegas loss