‘Kidding himself’: Tim Tszyu’s huge Fundora trilogy call as tensions threaten to boil over

A trilogy bout? Not so fast, says Tim Tszyu. The Australian has dialled up the pre-fight barbs ahead of his anticipated rematch with Sebastian Fundora by laying the smackdown on his rival.

Tim Tszyu threatens to put such a beating on Sebastian Fundora in their rematch this weekend that there won’t be any demand for a trilogy bout.

Meanwhile, simmering tensions between the two camps have threatened to boil over, with Team Tszyu claiming Fundora is “full of it” and distracted despite his bloody first win over The Soul Taker last year.

Ahead of their first fight in March last year – which Fundora won by split decision after Tszyu suffered a gruesome cut on his head – the two camps argued over whether there was a rematch clause in the contract. Tszyu went so far as to label Fundora’s promoter, Sampson Lewkowicz ‘the weasel’.

This time around, Tszyu says there is another rematch clause, but is adamant it won’t be needed.

Tim Tszyu has put thoughts of a Fundora ‘trilogy’ fight in doubt. Picture: No Limit Boxing

“I want to close it out now, this Saturday night,” Tszyu, who is in the best shape of his life, told Code Sports from his Split-T Gym training base in Las Vegas. “I want to put on a statement.

“I want an exclamation mark on it. A full stop.

“This, right now, is unfinished business and I want to finish it. I’m going to close it on Saturday.”

Normally quiet and polite, Fundora has been outspoken in his criticism of the way Tszyu’s team handled the cut in their first fight, and has questioned how bad the Aussie’s vision actually was.

“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.”

Sebastian Fundora (R) has questioned how bad Tszyu’s vision actually was as a result of the bloodbath in their first fight. Picture: Getty

Those comments infuriated Tszyu’s team, before Fundora’s dad, Freddy, got involved as well, forcing Tszyu’s manager, Glen Jennings to respond.

“Sebastian won the fight, but didn’t win the fight – the cut won it for him,” Jennings told Code Sports. “And for the champ, that’s hard to take.

“So, he’s saying, ‘That shits me, I’m going to start rattling their cage’. Tim’s already called him a bullshitter, and if they want to, they can fire up, but Tim’s coming in red hot.”

Fundora has barely ever resorted to trash talk, with Jennings saying his comments show signs of crumbling under pressure.

“When you see someone as affable as Sebastian Fundora come out with that, I think it’s stroking his ego a little bit,“ he said.

“And that’s the fight game, but if he genuinely believes he won that fight against a 100% Tim Tszyu, he’s kidding himself.

“I don’t think he believes it.

“His father’s had a lot to say as well, so it’s just whatever you can do to rattle the cage.

“For us, it says that it’s not going that well for them. They’re distracted, and you wonder if there’s doubt coming into their system.

Tim Tszyu has had plenty to say in the lead-up to the fight. Picture: No Limit Boxing

“If you’re as good as you believe, you don’t have to say anything. They can throw bombs, it won’t bother us in the slightest.”

Tszyu admits that his team got elements of the first fight wrong. His team was unable to stop the bleeding, and also missed the chance to have the fight stopped before the end of the fourth round, meaning the bout would have ended in a no contest, allowing Tszyu retain his WBO world title.

Tszyu will keep the same personnel this weekend, but had a few hard conversations with his inner sanctum too.

“Look, the team did make mistakes, and it’s just one of those things,” he said. “It’s there for everyone to see.

“Everyone’s owned up to it and moved on. I don’t dwell on the past.

“I look towards making the most of the present moments – the moments right now – and I’m living it.”

Tim Tszyu has kept a tight group preparing him for the rematch. Picture: No Limit Boxing

Cut man Mark Gambin told Code Sports this week that he has packed double what he needs on fight night as the corner looks for revenge.

Meanwhile, Jennings confirms there’s a rematch clause for a trilogy bout if Tszyu wins, but agrees with his fighter that it won’t be needed.

“No champ’s going into a fight without a rematch clause, but whether it comes to fruition is another matter,” he said. “It comes down to the outcome of the fight.

“If it’s compelling and the crowd wants it, there will be another one.

“But if it’s a whitewash and a demolition, they often don’t happen.

“Tim will finish this on Saturday night and then there’s no discussion.”

Originally published as ‘Kidding himself’: Tim Tszyu’s huge Fundora trilogy call as tensions threaten to boil over