Sebastian Fundora lobs first fight build-up barb at Tim Tszyu’s team as rematch confirmed

Sebastian Fundora and Tim Tszyu faced off in Los Angeles ahead of their rematch on July 19 - and the ‘Towering Inferno’ took the opportunity to take a pot-shot at the Australian’s closest allies.

Tim Tszyu has boldly promised to “reclaim the throne” in his world title rematch with Sebastian Fundora, while ‘The Towering Inferno’ lobbed the first grenade of the build-up by claiming his more experienced team will be the difference on fight night.

Tszyu is in America for the official announcement of the bout, which will be a co-main event to Manny Pacquiao’s welterweight world title comeback against Mario Barrios at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on July 19 (July 20 in Australia).

Tszyu and Fundora had a tense face-off after the official press conference in Los Angeles on Wednesday morning (Australian time), where the American threw out the first jab of the lead-up.

Tszyu’s team copped months of criticism in the fallout of their first fight last year after being unable to stop the river of blood flowing into his eyes from a cut on his head.

Tszyu was nearly blinded by the blood gushing from his head wound against Fundora. Picture: Getty

The Aussie had dominated the opening two rounds of the bout before an elbow to the head opened the cut and changed the course of his career.

Tszyu has stuck solid to the same team that worked his corner that night, with trainer Igor Goloubev, cutman Mark Gambin and cornerman David Barker all working his comeback win over Joey Spencer in April.

Fundora is managed by the veteran Sampson Lewkowicz, and is trained by his father, while his sister, Gabriela, is the undisputed flyweight world champion.

And he says his team will make all the difference on fight night.

“We had a plan for the last fight, we’ll have a plan for this one,” he said. “Who has a better team, that’s who’s going to win the fight and for sure, my team’s better.

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Tszyu watched Fundora speak at their press conference in Los Angeles. Picture: Premier Boxing Champions

“I just have to listen to my dad and I’ll be great.”

Tszyu will again keep the same crew he had in their first bout, and wants to repeat the dose of the opening two rounds, when he hurt Fundora with a pinpoint right hand.

“It’s a new chapter, and even thought things didn’t go my way, I intend to pick up where I left off,” he said. “I know Fundora is one hell of a fighter, one hell of a champion.

“He’s the current king at 154, but it’s my turn to reclaim the throne.”

Tszyu had been preparing to fight Keith Thurman in his Las Vegas debut 14 months ago, before the big-talking American pulled out injured.

That left the Aussie just two weeks to prepare for the 197cm tall Fundora.

“I’ve had 10 weeks to prepare for his style, which is a blessing,” he said. “Knowing you have two weeks to prepare for Fundora is quite hard.

Fundora and Tszyu rematch on July 20. Picture: Premier Boxing Champions

“That’s no excuses. It’s about working out a certain game-plan and working out the mistakes that were made before.

“Things were going according to plan (before the cut).

“I can’t go back and relive it, but I have to put on something that I put on before. It’s simple, put on some boxing.

“I’m already prepared. If you tell me tomorrow we can go at it, we can go. It doesn’t bother me.”

Despite his height and reach, Fundora loves fighting on the inside, but Tszyu said he has the strategy to take him down.

“Me and Fundora, we both like to press and we both bring the action,” he said. “Fighting against Fundora can’t be technical.

“You can’t really stay on your distance and take your time with him because he’s so tall.

“You have to make it a fight and bring the action.

“I’m just going to chop him down. Chop the tree down from the legs up.”

Meanwhile Fundora gave a blunt response when asked for a prediction on how the fight will go.

“Repeat, simple as that,” he said. “I don’t think this fight goes the distance.”

Originally published as Sebastian Fundora lobs first fight build-up barb at Tim Tszyu’s team as rematch confirmed