Fundora pounds Tszyu into submission in title rematch
Tszyu had been hunting redemption after losing a split-decision bloodbath to Fundora 16 months ago.
Instead Australia's former WBO super-welterweight world champ will return to Sydney with his international career at another crossroad following a despairing seventh-round TKO defeat.
Saturday night's loss at the MGM Grand's Garden Arena was the 30-year-old's third from his past four bouts, after going unbeaten for his first 24 professional fights.
Tszyu also endured a crushing world-title loss last year to big-hitting Russian Bakhram Murtazaliev before Fundora sportingly offered him a rematch after the Sydney slayer knocked out fellow American Joey Spencer in March.
Tszyu (25-3, 18KOs) may even consider a move up to the light-middleweight ranks, or hope Keith Thurman lives up to his word after the US star called him out after slaying Brock Jarvis earlier this year in Sydney.
More immediately, Tszyu must digest another sapping defeat at the hands of "The Towering Inferno".
Last time around against his gangling 197cm opponent, Tszyu had to fight for 10 rounds half-blinded after walking into Fundora's elbow and suffering an horrific cut to an artery at the top of his head.
In the return bout, Tszyu fought with more patience but couldn't stay with the near two-metre tall rival.
Fundora made a spectacular start, dropping Tszyu in the opening round with a thunderous straight left to the head.
Tszyu's cut man Mark Gambin was again under immense pressure after Fundora landed a flurry of punches to open up a nasty wound above the Australian's right eye in the second round.
Struggling to cope with Fundora's massive height and reach advantage, Tszyu looked in peril before catching the American with a huge over-hand right in round four.
But the Californian, the tallest world champion in all of boxing - continued to throw and land more punches than Tszyu.
Tszyu needed to conjure something special.
Showing supreme courage to stay in the contest, Tszyu found some joy with his body shots before the fight exploded in a ferocious round seven.
Despite hurting Fundora and maybe even breaking the champion's nose, Tszyu told his corner he could not return for round eight.
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This was a generational achievement akin to Bernard Hopkins and Archie Moore. This was a defiance of Father Time, and of an underdog who refuses to get old. This was a boxing legend's "Rocky" movie coming to life before our eyes. The 13,107 people who attended the iconic fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena felt the same. Las Vegas pulsed with "PacMan" fever all week. From the open workouts to the public weigh-ins, fans flocked to see their idol in the flesh. They came hoping to witness the improbable — and they did. Pacquiao bested Barrios by a 116-113 score, per Uncrowned's live scorecard on the night. He deserved the win, and the world title. He deserved to extend his own record as the oldest welterweight champion who ever lived. But boxing doesn't always reward what's deserved. Sport is not built on sentiment. Results can be cruel. And all those fans found that out the hard way. The three judges scored the Premier Boxing Champions main event as a majority draw. Nobody left happy. In the fight itself, Pacquiao's body looked strong at the weight. Yet his sharp, cut physique was a stark contrast to the wrinkles on his face. Like Mike Tyson against Jake Paul last year, Pacquiao started fast. Unlike "Iron Mike," though, this returning king didn't fade after the first round. He kept his rhythm going. In his signature southpaw stance, he danced in and out, and smiled as he landed punches in bunches. He stood firm in the center of the ring, unafraid to engage. Barrios showed flashes with his jab. But he didn't throw it early enough or often enough to seize control of the bout like the Hall of Famer had. He showed too much respect to a legend, and should have tried to bully him from the off. Pacquiao flurried and it didn't seem to matter if the first punch missed, as his follow-ups found Barrios's chin. He forced swelling on the champion's face, which were wounds Pacquiao himself seemed to avoid. 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