Latest news with #SebastianFundora
News.com.au
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Sebastian Fundora lobs first fight build-up barb at Tim Tszyu's team as rematch confirmed
Tim Tszyu has boldly promised to 'reclaim the throne' in his world title rematch with Sebastian Fundora, while 'The Towering Inferno' lobbed the first grenade of the build-up by claiming his more experienced team will be the difference on fight night. Tszyu is in America for the official announcement of the bout, which will be a co-main event to Manny Pacquiao's welterweight world title comeback against Mario Barrios at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on July 19 (July 20 in Australia). Tszyu and Fundora had a tense face-off after the official press conference in Los Angeles on Wednesday morning (Australian time), where the American threw out the first jab of the lead-up. Tszyu's team copped months of criticism in the fallout of their first fight last year after being unable to stop the river of blood flowing into his eyes from a cut on his head. The Aussie had dominated the opening two rounds of the bout before an elbow to the head opened the cut and changed the course of his career. Tszyu has stuck solid to the same team that worked his corner that night, with trainer Igor Goloubev, cutman Mark Gambin and cornerman David Barker all working his comeback win over Joey Spencer in April. Fundora is managed by the veteran Sampson Lewkowicz, and is trained by his father, while his sister, Gabriela, is the undisputed flyweight world champion. And he says his team will make all the difference on fight night. 'We had a plan for the last fight, we'll have a plan for this one,' he said. 'Who has a better team, that's who's going to win the fight and for sure, my team's better. 'I just have to listen to my dad and I'll be great.' Tszyu will again keep the same crew he had in their first bout, and wants to repeat the dose of the opening two rounds, when he hurt Fundora with a pinpoint right hand. 'It's a new chapter, and even thought things didn't go my way, I intend to pick up where I left off,' he said. 'I know Fundora is one hell of a fighter, one hell of a champion. 'He's the current king at 154, but it's my turn to reclaim the throne.' Tszyu had been preparing to fight Keith Thurman in his Las Vegas debut 14 months ago, before the big-talking American pulled out injured. That left the Aussie just two weeks to prepare for the 197cm tall Fundora. 'I've had 10 weeks to prepare for his style, which is a blessing,' he said. 'Knowing you have two weeks to prepare for Fundora is quite hard. 'That's no excuses. It's about working out a certain game-plan and working out the mistakes that were made before. 'Things were going according to plan (before the cut). 'I can't go back and relive it, but I have to put on something that I put on before. It's simple, put on some boxing. 'I'm already prepared. If you tell me tomorrow we can go at it, we can go. It doesn't bother me.' Despite his height and reach, Fundora loves fighting on the inside, but Tszyu said he has the strategy to take him down. 'Me and Fundora, we both like to press and we both bring the action,' he said. 'Fighting against Fundora can't be technical. 'You can't really stay on your distance and take your time with him because he's so tall. 'You have to make it a fight and bring the action. 'I'm just going to chop him down. Chop the tree down from the legs up.' Meanwhile Fundora gave a blunt response when asked for a prediction on how the fight will go. 'Repeat, simple as that,' he said. 'I don't think this fight goes the distance.'
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Tim Tszyu will fight for world title against Sebastian Fundora on Pacquiao card: 'We throw down'
Tim Tszyu will earn his shot at redemption in a world title rematch with Sebastian Fundora on a blockbuster card in Las Vegas featuring some of boxing's biggest names including the legendary Manny Pacquiao. Tszyu will joust for the WBC super-welterweight belt on July 19, 16 months after relinquishing his world title strap to Fundora in an epic and bloody bout in Vegas. 'This one's the most important of my career. It gives you this burning fire. A rematch gives you the chance to rewrite your mistakes,' Tszyu said after losing a split decision last time after fighting mostly blinded after copping a Fundora elbow to the head late in the second round. 'From round three to maybe round 10, I wasn't in the right mindset. I lost my head a bit. But I adapted. Started figuring him out - just a bit too late. Now, I know what needs to be done. 'I've never made excuses and I won't start now. If you lose, you lose. If you win, you win. My plan? Hit him in the face as hard as I can.' Asked about the stylistic match-up against the so-called Towering Inferno, Tszyu didn't shy away from what's to come. 'We both like to press. We bring the action. Fighting Fundora can't be technical. You've got to make it a war - and that's what this will be. A war.' Tszyu said he was honoured to feature on a stacked card at the MGM Grand Garden Arena headlined by the return of the Hall of Famer Manny Pacquiao. The Filipino is seeking to win another world title at age 46 against rising Mexican-American star Mario Barrios. 'I was 15 when I saw Pacquiao vs Cotto at MGM. Manny gave me a fist bump and it made my day. Now I'm fighting on the same card. That's wild,' the Sydney slayer said. 'This is going to be the fight card of the year. Pitbull Cruz to start it, then me and Fundora - we don't throw 10 punches a round. We throw down.' Fundora believes he and Tszyu will really put on a show in Las Vegas. 'I think this fight, no doubt, will steal the show, no matter what,' he said 'The first fight was a fight of the year. I'm going to say it, that was Fight of the Decade. 'You never see that much blood in boxing. And that's what people want to see besides a knockout. 'That's entertaining.
News.com.au
14-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
‘Blessing' for Tim Tszyu to be on same card as all-time great Manny Pacquiao come his rematch against Sebastian Fundora
Tim Tszyu has declared he has no mental scars from his bloody defeat to Sebastian Fundora as he prepares for a 'dogfight' in his Las Vegas revenge mission against the 197cm tall American. The Aussie added it's 'a blessing' that the world title rematch will take place on the same card as boxing legend Manny Pacquiao's first fight in four years on July 19 at the MGM Grand in Sin City. Speaking for the first time since this masthead broke the news that the fight would land on the same card as Pacquiao's welterweight world title fight with Mario Barrios, Tszyu said he had already cleared out a space for the green WBC world title Fundora currently has. Tszyu lost an agonising split decision to Fundora at T-Mobile Arena 14 months ago in one of the bloodiest fights in recent memory after copping a stray elbow from the much taller Fundora. It started a horror run for the Sydneysider, who went on to be knocked out by IBF world champ Bakhram Murtazaliev in October. But, after annihilating Joey Spencer in his return a month ago, Tszyu says he's ready to become a two-time world champion. 'I'm not emotionally damaged at all. I'm learning from everything, all the mistakes and everything that went wrong,' he said. 'I do have good memories from the fight – not just blood splattering – but being able to see his shots and being able to have some sort of control. 'Fundora's a tough fight for anyone, his natural, God-given ability and being that tall, it's never an easy fight. 'You have to make it a dogfight. This isn't round one, it's round 13 as soon as we start.' Official confirmation of Pacquiao's return is expected within days, while former super-lightweight world champion Isaac Cruz will also appear on the card. 'It's not 100% guaranteed, but to be fighting on a Manny Pacquiao undercard would be a really big blessing. Unreal,' Tszyu said. 'I did two weeks in Manilla with him, and that was an unreal experience. 'To even be talked about fighting on his undercard … it would be pretty awesome. 'The fact it's gonna be in Vegas, it gives you a buzz.' Tszyu dominated Fundora for the opening two rounds of their world title fight in March last year, but was virtually blinded by blood pouring into his eye from the third round onwards. Fundora defended the titles with a fourth round stoppage of Chordale Booker in March, before relinquishing the WBO belt to rematch Tszyu. The 25-2 Tszyu warns it won't be as simple as picking up where he left off before the debilitating cut though. 'He controls the range very well with his God given abilities,' he said. 'He's got those awkward shots inside. 'Even though he's tall, he's good inside. He's got ticker. He's always in it. Even though I broke his nose, he still had it in him. 'When you have a fighter like that, it's a tremendous task. 'There was a lot of questions (for him) as well. It was a split decision, it wasn't a clear answer. 'There's a lot for us both to prove. 'It's a big chapter in my life, it's something I really want to get back. It's a career-defining moment and I'm looking to revenge.' Tszyu had been expected to fight loudmouthed American Keith Thurman in July, but after his win over Spencer, he immediately called for a Fundora rematch. Thurman has seemingly left high and dry, but Tszyu hinted at an even bigger fight if he gets revenge over Fundora. 'Stay in the loop,' he told Thurman. 'Because there could be a potential superfight happening with titles on the line. 'I've cleared out my cupboard. I've got the WBO belt in there, but on the left hand side, I've left a spot specifically for the WBC belt. 'I've got a spot and I'm visualising that green (WBC) belt there.'
Forbes
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
Manny Pacquiao Comeback Fight: Opponent, Date & Info
Manny Pacquiao is reportedly coming back. According to a report from ESPN's Andreas Hale, the all-time great isn't just coming back for a meaningless exhibition—Pac-Man is coming back and walking right into a world-title fight. Pacquiao, 46, will reportedly challenge the 29-year-old Barrios for his 147-pound crown. The fight is scheduled for July 19 in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand. Pacquiao-Barrios will main event a card that will also feature a much-anticipated rematch between WBC and WBO super welterweight champion Sebastian Fundora and Tim Tszyu. Tszyu lost his next fight after the loss to Fundora. He was savagely stopped by Bakhram Murtazaliev in October 2024. Tszyu rebounded with an impressive fourth-round TKO win over Joseph Spencer in April to set up his rematch. The card will be a Premier Boxing Champions Prime Video pay-per-view event. Pacquiao hasn't fought professionally since August 2021, when he lost a unanimous decision to Yordenis Ugas in a battle for the WBA title. The Filipino icon did participate in an exhibition against Rukiya Anpo in July 2024, though his performance did not draw rave reviews. Fundora upset Tszyu in 2024 to capture the titles and has since successfully defended the unified titles once, against Chordale Booker in March. Fundora won that fight via fourth-round TKO. There have been rumors of this bout since the middle of 2024, but Pacquiao had to gain clearance from the Nevada State Athletic Commission. He got that this month and is now eligible to challenge for the WBC title as part of the governing body's rules that allow former champions to fight for their iconic belt if they return to the sport. Pacquiao is scheduled to be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in June, which could serve as one of the biggest launchpads for his promotion of the upcoming title fight. How much of a heel could Barrios make himself if he stormed the HOF ceremony to taunt Pacquiao? He'd be hated, but it would definitely ignite some hype around the fight. Pacquiao initially retired to concentrate on politics in his country, where he is still running for a spot as a senator. However, he is at least putting a few things on hold while he trains and attempts a championship return to the sport. The upcoming election is believed to be the reason Pacquiao hasn't formally announced the bout, though it appears all parties have agreed to terms. Barrios is 29-2-1 with 18 KOs. He last fought in November on the undercard of Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson. Barrios battled Abel Ramos to a split draw. There is something of a line between Barrios, who won the interim WBC title when he beat Ugas in September 2023. Barrios was elevated to full champion when Terence Crawford vacated the title to move up to 154 pounds. Barrios' two losses came to Gervonta Davis and Keith Thurman. Expect him to be a massive favorite over Pacquiao. Be on the lookout for more details as they become available over the next few weeks.
