Tszyu forecasts belt in his house after Fundora rematch

Tom Wark |

A stray elbow led to a bloodied face for Tim Tszyu in his previous battle with Sebastian Fundora.
A stray elbow led to a bloodied face for Tim Tszyu in his previous battle with Sebastian Fundora.

Tim Tszyu knows six-foot-six southpaw Sebastian Fundora poses a unique threat after losing to the American in a blood-splattered world-title fight by split decision in March 2024.

But the Australian insists both fighters have a point to prove when they face off again in Las Vegas later this year, after a stray elbow caused blood to stream down his face in their first meeting.

Tszyu
Tszyu will have to counter Fundora’s long reach when they square up again. (AP PHOTO)

Tszyu’s confidence in taking out the rematch has extended to organising his bedroom, saying he’s cleared a space for the iconic world-title belt when he wins.

“I’ve cleared out my cupboard … on the left-hand side I’ve made a spot specifically for the WBC belt,” Tszyu said on Wednesday.

“I’ve left it there and I’m visualising that green belt being there.” 

Speaking at the Hordern Pavilion in Sydney before Australian Sam Goodman’s world-title eliminator, Tszyu admits it’s hard to find a sparring partner that lines up with the American’s unique traits.

“Fundora is a tough fight for anyone with his natural God-given abilities being that tall,” Tszyu said on Wednesday.

“You have to make it a dogfight in there.

“This isn’t round one, it’s going to be round 13 as soon as we start.”

Despite some skirmishes with Fundora’s agent Sampson Lewkowicz in the past, the Sydney superstar was full of praise for the American fighter’s camp for agreeing to the rematch when other options were available.

“They’re (Fundora’s camp) respectful, they understand the magnitude and the fact that it was a split decision,” Tszyu said.

“It was just one judge that scored the fight one round ahead.

Tszyu
Tszyu and Fundora will be looking for a clear winner after their Las Vegas bloodbath. (AP PHOTO)

“I think for him there were a lot of questions as well, it wasn’t a clear answer, so there’s a lot for us both to prove.”

Tszyu also teased a possible matchup with former unified world champion Keith Thurman, saying: “Stay in the loop, because there could be a potential superfight happening with titles on the line.”

The 30-year-old had been expected to take on Thurman on the Gold Coast in July before the announcement of the rematch with Fundora.

No date has been finalised for the rematch, but Lewkowicz told BoxingScene the fight would take place in Las Vegas in either July or August.

AAP