logo
Tszyu forecasts belt in his house after Fundora rematch

Tszyu forecasts belt in his house after Fundora rematch

Perth Now14-05-2025

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'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.
"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.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

‘Bash them': The Anzac team tasked with softening up Lions for Wallabies
‘Bash them': The Anzac team tasked with softening up Lions for Wallabies

The Age

time20 minutes ago

  • The Age

‘Bash them': The Anzac team tasked with softening up Lions for Wallabies

While no players have yet been confirmed for the 2025 AUNZ Invitation side, former All Blacks coach Ian Foster has been appointed as an assistant. And Kiss said he envisaged there being a healthy number of New Zealanders, alongside a contingent of Australian players either released from the Wallabies squad or picked from the state sides. 'I'd imagine anywhere from six to ten New Zealanders at least and the rest will be open,' Kiss said on Stan's Rugby Heaven. 'There's talk about probably making sure we have enough avenue for Wallabies players to have access to that game, particularly as it's the last major match before the Test series starts. No doubt there's going to be some moves in that area to get some players in there, to be able to give them more game time, and [give] Joe [Schmidt] and the coaching team at the Wallabies more insight to what they're looking at in terms of their players. 'Make no mistake, we want to try and get that quality in, for sure, [but] in the right positions that allow us to expose the players that we want to. We don't want to close out any opportunities for our [Australian] guys in certain positions. So, those discussions will be ongoing, and we need to be fluid right to the last minutes.' With the AUNZ game scheduled as the last tour game before the first Test in Brisbane a week later, the Lions will almost certainly deploy the first-choice team they intend to use at Suncorp Stadium. When putting the 2025 tour schedule together, the Lions management were at pains to say they didn't want to play a quasi fourth Test against an Australia 'A' side. In a hard-fought and feisty clash in 2001, an Australia A side coached by Eddie Jones rolled the Lions in Gosford, and several other tour matches also saw the Lions cop mountains of aggression and physicality from the Australian state sides. Though it may have a festival vibe, Kiss said there would be a huge intensity to the AUNZ-Lions clash and the hosts will also be looking to do their part to help the Wallabies a week later. Loading 'I think if you look at what the possibilities could be in terms of personalities in that squad, there's going to be a lot of competitive people there. They'll want to do something special themselves,' Kiss said. 'I can't see anything but a super competitive battle, really. They're going to be loaded. They're very physical, very talented right across the squad. We'll do our best to get out there and bash them, for sure. 'We want to make sure we make it an enjoyable experience, but get out there and make sure we do a job that can soften the Lions up a bit for us.'

‘Bash them': The Anzac team tasked with softening up Lions for Wallabies
‘Bash them': The Anzac team tasked with softening up Lions for Wallabies

Sydney Morning Herald

time20 minutes ago

  • Sydney Morning Herald

‘Bash them': The Anzac team tasked with softening up Lions for Wallabies

While no players have yet been confirmed for the 2025 AUNZ Invitation side, former All Blacks coach Ian Foster has been appointed as an assistant. And Kiss said he envisaged there being a healthy number of New Zealanders, alongside a contingent of Australian players either released from the Wallabies squad or picked from the state sides. 'I'd imagine anywhere from six to ten New Zealanders at least and the rest will be open,' Kiss said on Stan's Rugby Heaven. 'There's talk about probably making sure we have enough avenue for Wallabies players to have access to that game, particularly as it's the last major match before the Test series starts. No doubt there's going to be some moves in that area to get some players in there, to be able to give them more game time, and [give] Joe [Schmidt] and the coaching team at the Wallabies more insight to what they're looking at in terms of their players. 'Make no mistake, we want to try and get that quality in, for sure, [but] in the right positions that allow us to expose the players that we want to. We don't want to close out any opportunities for our [Australian] guys in certain positions. So, those discussions will be ongoing, and we need to be fluid right to the last minutes.' With the AUNZ game scheduled as the last tour game before the first Test in Brisbane a week later, the Lions will almost certainly deploy the first-choice team they intend to use at Suncorp Stadium. When putting the 2025 tour schedule together, the Lions management were at pains to say they didn't want to play a quasi fourth Test against an Australia 'A' side. In a hard-fought and feisty clash in 2001, an Australia A side coached by Eddie Jones rolled the Lions in Gosford, and several other tour matches also saw the Lions cop mountains of aggression and physicality from the Australian state sides. Though it may have a festival vibe, Kiss said there would be a huge intensity to the AUNZ-Lions clash and the hosts will also be looking to do their part to help the Wallabies a week later. Loading 'I think if you look at what the possibilities could be in terms of personalities in that squad, there's going to be a lot of competitive people there. They'll want to do something special themselves,' Kiss said. 'I can't see anything but a super competitive battle, really. They're going to be loaded. They're very physical, very talented right across the squad. We'll do our best to get out there and bash them, for sure. 'We want to make sure we make it an enjoyable experience, but get out there and make sure we do a job that can soften the Lions up a bit for us.'

Cricket 2025: Josh Inglis is ‘Australia's next Test captain', but he isn't in the team
Cricket 2025: Josh Inglis is ‘Australia's next Test captain', but he isn't in the team

Mercury

time43 minutes ago

  • Mercury

Cricket 2025: Josh Inglis is ‘Australia's next Test captain', but he isn't in the team

Don't miss out on the headlines from Cricket. Followed categories will be added to My News. All eyes are on the World Test Championship (WTC) Final right now but Australia's Test team could look quite different when the squad heads to the West Indies later this month. Australia are aiming to win back-to-back WTC maces with victory in the final at Lord's against South Africa, which is set to be a quick match after 14 wickets fell on Day 1 as Steve Smith made history. Watch England vs India Test Series LIVE & EXCLUSIVE on Fox Cricket, available on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer. The Aussies are boasting renewed depth in their Test squad, with Sam Konstas, Scott Boland and Josh Inglis unlucky to miss out on the WTC final given their strong recent form for the national side. Respected cricket commentator Adam Collins told SEN's Cricket podcast ahead of the WTC Final he believes Inglis will be Australia's next Test captain despite the fact he is currently not in the team. 'I've got to say for the record, I'm a huge Inglis guy,' Collins said. 'I think Josh Inglis will be Australia's next Test captain. I think, over time, there will be a case for him to be invested in across the board.' It's a bold call by Collins given the likes of Travis Head (age 31), Alex Carey (33) and Cameron Green (26) have been mentioned as future Test captains. Pat Cummins has captained Australia since the 2021-22 Ashes and the 32-year-old fast bowler has signalled he has no plans to give up the captaincy anytime soon as he continues to win trophies. Is Josh Inglis (left) Australia's next Test captain? (Photo by) Inglis was born in the UK but moved to Australia when he was 14, going on to win domestic titles in all three formats with Western Australia and the Perth Scorchers. He was part of the Australian squads that won the 2021 T20 World Cup, the 2023 ODI World Cup and the 2023 World Test Championship Final. Inglis, 30, already belongs to an exclusive club of just five Australian players who have scored Test, ODI and T20I centuries — along with Shane Watson, Glenn Maxwell, David Warner and Beth Mooney. His rapid fire century on Test debut in Sri Lanka earlier this year reinforced his credentials as a red ball player, as a wicketkeeper or batter only, after strong form in the Sheffield Shield. But with Alex Carey's near impeccable form with the gloves and the bat in recent years, it remains to be seen how Inglis fits into the Australian team, given the emergence of Beau Webster and Cam Green's return from injury. Inglis, Konstas and Boland are likely to feature in Australia's tour of the West Indies that begins later this month, featuring three Tests and five T20s. Australia's Josh Inglis celebrates after scoring his maiden Test century against Sri Lanka. (Photo by Ishara S. KODIKARA / AFP) The trio were overlooked for the WTC Final but Cummins has strongly hinted they will have a role to play against the West Indies, which serves as a key audition ahead of this summer's home Ashes. Collins added: 'Round 1 of the next cycle in the Windies, I'd be almost certain Konstas plays, but this is a bit different being a one-off final.' Pressure is mounting on Marnus Labuschagne's spot in the XI, with Konstas set to take his spot at the top of the order in the West Indies. The three-Test series, plus all five T20 Internationals, will be broadcast live on ESPN from June 26 to July 29. ESPN is available to all Kayo Sports subscribers as part of their existing subscription. Australia has not visited the Caribbean for a Test series in 10 years, while the last edition of the Frank Worrell Trophy in 2023-24 was drawn 1-1. The latest renewal of this historic rivalry begins in Barbados with the first Test from June 26-30, followed by the second Test in Grenada from July 4-8 and a day-night Test in Jamaica from July 13-17. Sam Konstas will get his chance to play in the West Indies. (Photo by) The series will be Australia's final Test match preparations before a massive home Ashes series this summer, broadcast on Kayo Sports. Following the Frank Worrell Trophy, the two nations will face off in five T20Is from July 21-29. The series will form a crucial part of both sides' preparation for the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup. WEST INDIES V AUSTRALIA Every ball LIVE on ESPN, available on Kayo Sports. Frank Worrell Trophy First Test, Barbados: June 26-30, 12:00am AEST Second Test, Grenada: July 4-8, 12:00am AEST Third Test, Jamaica: July 13-17, 4:30am AEST T20 International Series First T20I, Jamaica: July 21, 10:00am AEST Second T20I, Jamaica: July 23, 10:00am AEST Third T20I, St Kitts and Nevis: July 26, 8:00am AEST Fourth T20I, St Kitts and Nevis: July 27, 8:00am AEST Fifth T20I, St Kitts and Nevis: July 29, 8:00am AEST Australia's tour of the West Indies, live on ESPN, is also available on Foxtel. Originally published as Smokey for 'Australia's next Test captain' named, but he isn't in the team

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store