Tszyu to fight Fundora in world-title rematch in Vegas
Darren Walton |
Tim Tszyu will get a chance to reclaim his super-welterweight world title in a rematch with Sebastian Fundora in Las Vegas.
In a major twist, Fundora has withdrawn from Friday’s scheduled purse bid for his mandatory WBO title defence against Xander Zayas.
Fundora’s promoter Sampson Lewkowicz told BoxingScene that the WBC and WBO belt holder would fight Tszyu instead at T-Mobile Arena with just the WBC belt up for grabs.
July 19 is a possible date for the rematch but Lewkowicz says nothing has yet been finalised.
If not in July, Lewkowicz said the blockbuster would take place in August.
“This is the fight that everyone wants to see,” he said.
“It will be raining blood.”
Tszyu relinquished his WBO title when he lost a bloody split decision to Fundora in Vegas last March.
The Sydney superstar had been due to fight Fundora’s fellow American Keith Thurman before Thurman pulled out with a torn biceps muscle.
Tszyu opted for Fundora to step in on 12 days’ notice but copped an accidental elbow to his head late in the second round.
Despite fighting for more than 10 rounds with blood streaming down his face and into his eyes, Tszyu was awarded the bout by one of the judges.
The defeat was the first of Tszyu’s then-25-fight professional career.
Tszyu subsequently lost another world-title fight last October in Florida, battered by Russian Bakhram Murtazaliev in a one-sided IBF showdown to seemingly leave his career in tatters.
But a desperately needed victory over another American, Joey Spencer, in Newcastle three weeks ago restored his battered international reputation.
The 30-year-old had been expected to take on Thurman on the Gold Coast in July before Wednesday’s major turn of events.
AAP
