Tim Tszyu set for ‘vengeance’ world title rematch with Sebastian Fundora, Sam Goodman possible on undercard

Tim Tszyu’s path towards becoming a two-time world champion has just opened up, with several names being mentioned to appear on the card of a much-anticipated rematch.

Tim Tszyu’s world title rematch with Sebastian Fundora will be held in either Las Vegas or New York, with Sam Goodman set to appear on the undercard if he beats Cesar Vaca in two weeks.

Tszyu will fight for Fundora’s WBC title in July or August in an eagerly awaited rematch of their blood bath in Las Vegas last year.

Tszyu reacted to the news on social media, writing simply: “Vengeance” as he shared a graphic to his Instagram story.

An official announcement is expected by late May after US promotional outfit PBC confirms dates for American superstar Gervonta Davis and a possible welterweight world title bout between Manny Pacquiao and WBC champion Mario Barrios.

Tim Tszyu's instagram story post on the announcement of a rematch with Sebastian Fundora. Picture: Supplied

Gervonta Davis could be on the came fight card. Picture: Al Bello/Getty Images

Negotiations are still in the early stages, but Tszyu and Davis – who is one of the biggest, and highest paid boxers in America – could even fight on the same card.

“We’ve been talking about it ever since that first fight, and the timing has worked out perfectly,” No Limit CEO George Rose told Code Sports. “Depending on the date and times that get locked in, there are a few other fights floating around at the moment, but it will be around July or August.”

A Las Vegas rematch with Fundora would take Tszyu back to the location of his first professional loss, when ‘The Towering Inferno’ cut him with an accidental elbow, leaving him fighting blind for 10 rounds.

Tszyu’s rematch with Fundora could take place back in Las Vegas. Picture: Steve Marcus/Getty Images

Fundora claimed a bloody split decision win, and took home the WBC super-welterweight title and Tszyu’s WBO belt with it.

Such was the bizarre nature of the win, Fundora tried to give Tszyu the belt back in the dressing rooms of T-Mobile Arena afterwards.

‘The Soul Taker’ won’t have the opportunity to win back the same WBO title just yet, with Fundora set to vacate the belt, allowing Xander Zayas and Jorge Garcia Perez to scrap for the vacant world title.

The rematch means Tszyu is set for another run-in with Fundora’s manager, Sampson Lewkowicz, who the Aussie labelled ‘The Rat’ after a fight week blow up in Las Vegas last year.

Lewkowicz said a confirmation on the rematch is imminent.

“It will happen in July or August, not just in Australia,” he told Code Sports. “Everyone in boxing around the world is waiting for that rematch because it was raining blood in the first fight.

“It’s a good fight for both parties.”

If the rematch ends up in New York, it will most likely be held at the Barclays Centre in Brooklyn, rather than Madison Square Garden as had initially been planned.

After missing out on a seven figure payday when a pair of cuts ruined his shot at super-bantamweight kingpin Naoya Inoue, Goodman is preparing to fight 19-1-1 Mexican Ceasr Vaca at the Hordern Pavilion on May 14.

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Goodman is set to appear on the undercard of a Tszyu-Fundora rematch. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

A win will see Goodman propelled to his first fight outside Australia, and a spot on Tszyu’s undercard.

Although ‘The Ghost’ doesn’t want to look too far ahead.

“I’ve put the mocker on a few overseas trips for a while now,” he joked on Wednesday. “I don’t want to put too much out there.

“There was my Japan trip falling through, I was supposed to be on the (Jermell) Charlo card when Tim was meant to fight him, so I’m a bit of a mock at the moment.”

Goodman was also in attendance when Tszyu lost to Fundora in Las Vegas, and hasn’t given up hope of fighting Inoue.

“He deserves to fight for a world title, and outside of Inoue, he’s the best in the division,” Rose said. “We’ll see how he pulls up from this fight, and we’ll start planning his next fight.

“Inoue’s got a plan, but if he wants to prove he’s really the best in the division, he’ll have to consider a fight with Sam Goodman.”

Tszyu had initially been expected to fight Keith Thurman on the Gold Coast in July.

But after admitting to struggling during his weight cut ahead of his win over Joey Spencer, Tszyu has limited time left at super-welterweight and opted to go straight to a world title rematch.

Tszyu bounced back with a win over Joey Spencer. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

Promoters and managers will now work towards what happens next with Thurman.

Michael Zerafa put his hand up to fight the slick 36-year-old, but a fight between Thurman and Tszyu could be pushed back to later in the year.

“We want to get Thurman back, we really like working with him and we want to get him back in the future,” Rose said. “He’s a legend of the sport and he’s shown he’s still got it.

“He’s someone you want to have back. Tim wants that fight, and there’s still interest in it.”

Tim Tszyu is ready for vengeance. Picture: No Limit Boxing

There were hopes from newly-crowned WBA interim flyweight world champion Vivana Ruiz’s team that she could also be on the card.

Ruiz is the mandatory to undisputed flyweight world champion, Gabriela Fundora, who is Sebastian’s younger sister.

But Gabriela is signed to rival promoter Top Rank, making it unlikely.

Tszyu’s shock rematch will force changes to No Limit’s schedule of events for the year.

June’s pay-per-view show in Cairns has been pushed back two weeks from the 11th to the 25th.

As first reported by this masthead, Liam Paro is set to fight on the card, with hopes Nikita Tszyu will also appear for the first time since his fight of the year win over Koen Mazoudier last August.

The planned July 6 card on the Gold Coast will be rescheduled, with the focus turning to Tim’s fight in America.

Originally published as Tim Tszyu set for ‘vengeance’ world title rematch with Sebastian Fundora, Sam Goodman possible on undercard