Tim Tszyu promises firefight after “stupid” Sebastian Fundora comments

Sebastian Fundora’s comments about Tim Tszyu’s cut after their face off last year has the Aussie hot under the collar and promising to ‘punish’ his American rival in their world title rematch.

Their first fight was a bloodbath, and Tim Tszyu promises to “punish” Sebastian Fundora in their world title rematch after the American’s “stupid” comment about the blood that poured into his eyes.

Speaking before training in Las Vegas, nine days out from their MGM Grand showdown, Tszyu said there’s unfinished business between them after the 197cm tall Fundora won a razor-thin split decision in their first fight.

Tszyu fought virtually blind in one eye after a stray elbow opened a horrendous cut on his head, but Fundora has downplayed the impact of the blood dripping into his eyes.

“I didn’t think that cut was bothering him at all,” Fundora said. “(Tszyu was) maybe removing a couple of drops from his eyes, but it wasn’t too much of a thing.”

Those comments haven’t gone down well with Tszyu, who promises another all-action war when they step into the ring.

Sebastian Fundora has said the cut wasn't that bad. Picture: Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images

“Everyone knows what happened. Everyone saw it, I was wiping it off,” he said of the blood that poured down his face. “I don’t even need to argue about that point.

“It’s such a stupid thing to say. It’s a bullshit statement.

“I can’t wait to get in the ring so I can punish, I’ve got a lot to prove.

“I wouldn’t say there’s bad blood, but I wanna take his head off.

“It’s going to be a firefight, and I love firefights. They suit me.”

Tszyu admits he was guilty of losing his patience after his vision was compromised in their first fight, but has matured over the last 15 months.

“I’ve felt this whole fight is unfinished business,” he said. “I wasn’t able to completely show myself, but this time we get to re-write history and I get to show myself.

Tszyu speaking to the media in Las Vegas. Picture: Ryan Hafey/Premier Boxing Champions

“The fact that we know each other now, and we’ve shared the ring for 12 rounds is a big difference.

“We’ll both make adjustments and see who gets it correct on the night.

“I feel like (the knockout) will come, I’ve just gotta stay patient. A year ago, I was going for it too much, and in boxing, you can’t be doing that – especially at the very top level.

“When it comes, it’ll come.”

After admitting he lost focus slightly on Bakhram Murtazaliev by thinking ahead to future fights, Tszyu won’t weigh-in on any potential opponents, but says a trilogy bout against Fundora is enticing if he wins next weekend.

“We shall talk,” he said about a deciding showdown. “But I’ve gotta get the job done first.

“I used to try to envision too much, but this time it’s just Fundora-focused.”

Tszyu won’t rule out a trilogy fight if he beats Fundora. Picture: Ryan Hafey/Premier Boxing Champions

Tszyu has done all but the final two weeks of his training camp in Australia, telling this masthead in June that if training at home is good enough for UFC superstar Alex Volkanovski, it’s good enough for him.

He made his comeback following consecutive defeats in his adopted hometown Newcastle in April, but says it’s a dream come true to be fighting on the same card as Manny Pacquiao at the world famous MGM Grand in Vegas.

“I’m fighting at the MGM, and it’s an iconic stage and a young kid’s dream to be fighting at this level,” he said.

“But fighting in Australia when you’ve got 10,000 people screaming out and everyone behind you, it’s unreal.

“A lot of boxers get to fight on undercards and different levels, but when you fight in Australia and everyone’s behind you, it’s different.

“This is a massive card with Manny coming back to do historic things. This card has everything. It’s a real global boxing stage. It’s gonna be a hell of a show and I really think it’s gonna be the card of the year.”

Originally published as Tim Tszyu promises firefight after “stupid” Sebastian Fundora comments