Former world title challenger and Australian Olympic boxing captain Luke Jackson says Tim Tszyu’s corner should have stopped the fight earlier after the Australian lost his WBO Super Welterweight title in Las Vegas on a split decision to American Sebastian Fundora.
Tszyu was in control in the first two rounds of the fight, finding success with his punches on the American’s 197-centimetre frame before disaster struck in the closing seconds of round two. Tszyu ducked and his forehead accidentally caught the point of Fundora’s elbow, opening a deep wound that changed the contest and potentially Tszyu’s career.
“The corner should have been telling the doctor that [Tszyu] can’t see and the fight should have been stopped before the fourth round,” Jackson said.
“You know, the longer the fight went, the worse it was for Tim because he just couldn’t see, and imagine the amount of energy Tim was losing from all that blood loss.
“When you’re told to perform at the highest level against an awkward opponent like Fundora, the last thing you want is constant blood flowing. That blood should have been stopped.”
At the end of the second round, the ringside doctor examined Tszyu and after talking with referee Harvey Dock, it was decided the fight would continue. If the fight had been stopped then it would have been ruled a no-contest and Tszyu would have kept his WBO title.
Bloody mess: Tim Tszyu (left) in the third round of his bout against Sebastian Fundora in Las Vegas.Credit: Getty
Referees generally make the call to stop a fight if a cut exposes the boxer to danger of suffering facial injury or the blood limits their vision so badly they potentially can’t defend themselves.
The corner of Tszyu also could have asked the referee to stop the contest, but didn’t.
Though the cut was in a relatively safe spot on top of his head, Tszyu said after the fight he was “completely blinded” by the amount of blood pouring down over his face.
The referee could have also called the fight to a halt after four rounds, making a technical decision, which on the judge’s eventual scorecards would have made the contest a draw, again leaving Tszyu to keep his title.
The Australian fighter managed to fight on for 10 more rounds, at least partially blinded and with his previous game plan torn to shreds. Tszyu was forced to fight more aggressively, concerned that the contest could be stopped at any stage. He was vulnerable to Fundora’s long jab, as he searched valiantly for a power punch to end the contest early.
Tszyu returned to his coach, Igor Goloublev, in the corner for instructions with his face covered in blood, leaving his corner man to try toapply layers of Vaseline that barely stemmed the blood that flowed into his eyes. He stood in his corner when the bell rang for the start of each round, haplessly trying to brush the blood away with his thick leather gloves.
Fundora had been known for his recklessness in previous fights, often choosing to trade flurries of punches rather than use his physical advantages. Against Tszyu, he took full advantage of the Rockdale fighter’s cut, jabbing at his forehead, doing enough to end the fragile protection provided by the Vaseline.
Tim Tszyu battled bravely in Las Vegas against a far bigger opponentCredit: Getty
The fight ended on a close split decision for Fundora, with judge Tim Cheatham having Tszyu winning the fight 116-112. In contrast, David Sutherland had it 115-113 to Fundora and Steve Weisfeld had it 116-112 to Fundora, giving the American the WBC World Super Welterweight belt and Tszyu’s old WBO title.
Given the devastating circumstances of his Las Vegas debut, Tszyu was impressively sanguine in defeat, perhaps taking consolation that he should get an opportunity to avenge this loss with a rematch clause against Fundora already in place. The return fight is likely to take place in Australia.
The only slight impediment to the expected Fundora rematch was the sight of Errol Spence Jr in the ring talking up a fight between the American pair, with future Hall of Famer Terence Crawford also keen to take on the man they call the “The Towering Inferno”.
“Look, I told you, I’m an old throwback fighter, whatever circumstances. I couldn’t see. All credit belongs to the man who won tonight,” Tszyu said.
“These things happen; the momentum was rolling, swinging hard in the first two rounds, then boom you’re blinded completely.
“This is boxing; these things happen. Congratulations to Fundora. He’s the new king at 154 ... We will bounce back.”
Sports news, results and expert commentary. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.