Latest news with #SebastianFundora
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Aussie boxing legend Jeff Fenech blasts Tim Tszyu for surrounding himself with 'clowns' who made sure he'll be known for something all fighters would be ashamed of
Aussie boxing icon Jeff Fenech has taken aim at Tim Tszyu's fight team following his world title loss to American Sebastian Fundora over the weekend, describing them as 'clowns'. 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 is returning to Sydney with his international career at another crossroad following a despairing seventh-round TKO defeat. Fenech was left furious that Tszyu made the decision to not come out for the eighth round, instead of the corner calling it off. 'They never threw in the towel - he stopped it,' Fenech told Wide World of Sports. 'They should have thrown in the towel and they should have taken responsibility for that. 'These clowns made Tim make that decision. Tim after the seventh round, when he sat down and you looked in his eyes, you stop the fight for him. They let him say that he didn't want to fight anymore and a lot of people are laughing about it. 'I feel for Tim and the main reason why is because from round one, he went out and did exactly the same thing and nobody told him to change. They just think that this one style he's got, which has been successful, is the only thing that he's good at. 'It was sad to see such a great fighter only have a Plan A with no Plan B or C. All he did was the same thing every round and when he wasn't successful, you've got to change. 'There's levels in our sport. I feel very sorry for Tim, to see such a great talent wasted.' 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 (25-3, 18KOs) may 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. 'He needs to sit down with his family and work out what they want to do - and then he needs to get the right team around him,' Fenech said. 'If they don't change, the same thing is gonna happen.' Former champ Shawn Porter believes Tszyu is finished by any means. 'He's not finished at the top level,' Porter said on Main Event. 'He can still get it done against elite guys; it's gonna happen back in Australia for a little while. 'I don't believe Tim Tszyu is done on the world stage, primarily because he still fought very hard, very courageously, and we're now at the stage in the sport where it's about what you can bring to the stands, not what your status is.'
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Huge hint Tim Tszyu's boxing career is over after Aussie quits on stool against Sebastian Fundora
Tim Tszyu has been released from the hospital, but his boxing future is in serious doubt after a second brutal beat down by Sebastian Fundora. Australia's former WBO super-welterweight champion was badly outclassed on Sunday before quitting on the stool at the end of the seventh round. Tszyu was dropped in round 1, and things only got uglier from there, with the loss leaving the Aussie to ponder if continuing in the brutal sport is worth it anymore. 'I tried to give it everything, but I just couldn't do it,' Tszyu said after the fight. The Tszyu camp went to great lengths after the fight to dismiss the Aussie gave up on himself, stating it was a joint decision to throw in the towel. And while Tszyu stopped short of saying he quit after yet another defeat, his words, 'I just couldn't do it', said it all. As did the blank stare and distressed state he was in back in the dressing room after the fight, as the heavy burden of trying to carry on the Tszyu legacy appears to finally be taking its toll. The 30-year-old had been attempting to emulate his Hall of Fame dad Kostya as only the third father-son duo in boxing history to both win multiple world titles. But that dream appears now dead in the water. And Tszyu's promoter, former rugby league hard man George Rose, hinted in a statement on Sunday night that Tszyu may walk away from the sport. 'It's just a decision up to him as to what he's going to do, whether he gets back in the gym on Monday, whether he has a break, what he does,' Rose said in a statement. 'In this sport, a loss is a long time that you've got to deal with that for. 'It's not a one-week thing like most team sports, where you can move on within a week. 'A lot's got to happen on the back of it. Firstly, you've got to go medically. 'Then you've got to look at where the hunger's at, and Tim's one person you never can question his hunger or desire or the amount of application he puts in with his efforts in this sport. He rips in. 'He just fought for a world title at the MGM Grand, so while that's a really cool thing, taking a loss is a tough thing. 'I know Tim's still very talented, very capable, but it comes down to him. He's the guy who's got to put his life on the line in the ring. 'So the decision is on him, and I support him with whatever he chooses 100 per cent.' Tszyu has now lost three of his past four fights. He has been outclassed twice by Fundora and was also walloped in his title fight against Russian Bakhram Murtazaliev at the end of 2024. Whether Tszyu wishes to rebuild his career is unknown at this stage, but if he does, his road to the top is now a long one. Had Tszyu won on Sunday, his promoter No Limit was targeting a fight with a US superstar – either Keith Thurman, Jermell Charlo or Errol Spence Jr. But after a third loss in four fights, any Tszyu rebuild would now likely start back Down Under, potentially fighting Michael Zerafa – a man long seen as inferior to Tszyu. Currently, Zerafa is slated to fight on Tim's brother Nikita's August comeback card and then, should the pair both win, square off with 'The Butcher' at the end of the year. However, if Tszyu does wish to try and make a run to the top again, a fight against Zerafa – a man he was scheduled to fight back in 2021 – appears a logical place to start.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Tim Tszyu's camp responds after Aussie warned against potential career-ending move
Tim Tszyu is facing a tough career call after his second devastating loss to Sebastian Fundora with the Aussie boxer warned to avoid a mega-money bout with American Keith Thurman. Tszyu was outgunned against his towering American rival having been battered in nearly every round before failing to return from the corner after the seventh. Tszyu showed heart to battle back after a first round knockdown from a left hook, but was bombarded from distance as Fundora took everything the Aussie threw at him. And Tszyu didn't return after the seventh round having looked out on his feet at the end. And Tszyu's third loss in four fights appears to have derailed what could have been mega-money fights against the likes of Jermell Charlo, Errol Spence Jnr and the No.1 target on his list Thurman. Question marks remain over where Tszyu goes from here with the fighter clearly needing a break after two heavy losses across the last 18 months. While Tszyu will most likely be keen on continuing his foray in the US, the Aussie has now lost his three fights overseas. He will be expected to continue his career back on the domestic front and fellow Aussie Michael Zerafa is his predicted opponent. While there is plenty of question marks over his future in the sport, promoter George Rose suggested Tszyu would take some time away first to recover after taking so much damage. Although he had no doubt Tszyu can bounce back. "First and foremost, he needs to just recover from this, go through your process of facing defeat," Rose said after the fight. "You've got to go through your moments with that, and then it's a decision for him. "He's still, as far as talent and capability goes, very much a very capable fighter, a very talented fighter, and I still think that he still beats most of the guys in the division on his night. It's just a decision up to him as to what he's going to do, whether he gets back in the gym on Monday, whether he has a break, what he does." While fans are questioning where Tszyu goes from here, one of his rivals believes there is no doubt the Aussie can bounce back. Although he warned him who he should avoid as his next opponent. Keith Thurman's warning to Tim Tszyu Thurman was in attendance at the Tszyu fight, clearly keen to potentially build the momentum for their potential fight if the Aussie won, but was quick to warn the 30-year-old it could be career-ending if they go toe-to-toe. The outspoken American suggested if they fight it won't go well for Tszyu after his latest displays. 'How bad do want Tim Tszyu to get beat up?' he told The Punch Podcast. 'Y'all hate Tim Tszyu? 'Y'all want him to get murdered?' Thurman felt Tszyu may have overestimated his own talent, before proving himself overseas against elite competition. Speaking on his way out of the arena, Thurman feels Tszyu can build his legacy back up with a few wins. Although he warned him about stepping into the ring against him. 'No, the kid's not done but they need to pick the right fights,' Thurman said. 'They need to pick somebody who is better than (Joey) Spencer but who is not a world champion. Or a Hall of Famer like myself. You take me over to the Gold Coast and I will end Tim Tszyu's career. If that's what you all want to see, pay me and I'll do it. I'll get rid of Tszyu.' Tim Tszyu facing reset back in Australia American boxing great Shawn Porter felt the Aussie may need time to build back up to the big fights before heading back overseas. And this could see Tszyu go home and reset. 'It's hard to not feel this train ride come to a halt,' Porter said. 'It's doesn't mean it's going to end, it's just slowed down...I don't believe that Tim Tszyu has fought his way out of title contention. It just doesn't go through Sebastian Fundora." Porter suggested there were a number of 'technical errors' in Tszyu's style that need to be addressed if he wants to take on top competition again, which starts with his defence and head movement.
News.com.au
4 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
‘Thinks he's the shit': Long-time Tszyu rival Keith Thurman takes aim as No Limit hits back at trolls
Former two-time welterweight world champion Keith Thurman has taken an extraordinary swipe at Tim Tszyu, saying the Aussie 'thinks he's the shit' and blaming his shattering defeat to Sebastian Fundora on poor tactics. Thurman didn't pull his punches, hitting Tszyu at his lowest moment, just minutes after the loss. Tszyu's corner stopped the fight after the seventh round of the world title rematch, before Thurman promised to end his career if they ever fought. The pair were supposed to fight in March last year, before Thurman pulled out with injury. Thurman knocked out Brock Jarvis in Sydney in March, and there were plans for the loud-mouthed American to fight Tszyu on the Gold Coast this month until the Fundora rematch popped up. Earlier in the week, Thurman said he'd be interested in fighting the winner of Tszyu-Fundora 2, but promised it wouldn't end well for the Aussie. 'How bad do you want Tim Tszyu to get beat up? Do y'all hate Tim Tszyu?' he told The Punch Podcast in Las Vegas when asked if he'd still be interested in that fight. 'Do ya'll want to see him get murdered? 'You take me over to the Gold Coast and I will end Tim Tszyu's career. 'If that's what y'all want to see, pay me.' After his third defeat in four fights, Thurman said Tszyu was too insulated training in Australia. 'He thinks he's the shit,' he said. 'Boxing, in the real world, outside Australia, boxing is a plethora of talent and skills and opposition. 'He thought he was going to fly over here and handle it last year. 'He lost the world title, he fought Bakhram for the world title, he had one comeback fight and tried to win the world title again. 'They just rushed to put him back at the top. 'The kid's not done, but they need to pick the right fights. They need to pick somebody who's better than Spencer, but who's not a world champion.' Thurman was ringside for the bout, and was scathing in his assessment of Tszyu's approach. 'He landed a few shots, right on the chin. They just weren't hard enough, they just weren't flush enough,' he said. 'It's just tactics. I don't think Tim Tszyu's tactical enough. 'There's no evidence Tim Tszyu can beat Fundora. Period. It's a tough fight, an awkward fight. 'After the second fight, clearly, he wasn't able to conquer that mountain top.' TSZYU CAMP HITS BACK AT TROLLS No Limit CEO George Rose has launched a fiery defence of Tim Tszyu, hitting back at online trolls who are slamming the Aussie after his world title defeat to Sebastian Fundora. After a brief conversation, Tszyu's corner stopped the bout at the end of the seventh round. Ironically, the seventh was probably the best round of the fight for Tszyu. It's unclear who exactly made the call to stop the bout, but online critics were quick to label the Aussie a 'quitter'. Speaking just minutes after the stunning defeat, Rose angrily clapped back at the pile-on. 'My thing is, I always ignore them,' Rose said of online trolls. 'People who feel that way aren't people whose opinions and values are similar to those I hold myself. 'You give me any man online or across the country, or absolutely anywhere, who can step in the ring with Sebastian Fundora and do any better than what Tim did…there's no person out there who could've got in and done any better. 'Sebastian Fundora is an absolute weapon. It's impossible to do any better than what Tim put out there tonight. 'I thought he was an absolute warrior. (Fundora) is just really bloody good.' Tszyu's camp said the fighter was 'gassed' and didn't have anything left in his legs from all the jabs Fundora sent his way. Compubox stats revealed the American threw an incredible 306 jabs in seven rounds and landed 152 of the 596 total punches he threw. Meanwhile Tszyu connected with just 72 of the 204 total punches he threw. A No Limit spokesperson said the corner made a decision as a collective to stop the fight. 'He was gassed more than he was hurt,' Rose said. 'The punch output from Fundora, not only was he hard to get into, the punch output, he must have been doing 200 punches a round. 'It was ridiculous. 'Tim's constant movement to get in there, the amount of punches you have to take to get in there, it wears you down.' Rose called on Aussies to stick behind Tszyu after his third defeat in four fights. 'If you looked at what Tim Tszyu put out there tonight and think he's any less than a warrior who fought his arse off and threw absolutely everything he had at Fundora – and after being knocked down in the first round, getting up, coming back at him when his legs aren't under him and still throwing everything he can at Fundora – that's a warrior effort,' he said. 'That's someone you have to admire. 'As Australians, that's what we've always admired. We have been underdogs all our lives. 'We've fought for everything. 'We're that small country Down Under that's trying to compete on the world stage. 'We're always the underdog and we need to respect ourselves as that and support our Australians. 'I'm a supporter of someone no matter what. 'Win, lose or draw. 'You bust your arse, you get more respect than winning without effort. 'And the effort Tim Tszyu showed tonight, he's someone who deserves respect. 'Deserves support right now. 'When you take a loss, that's when you need the support most.'
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mario Barrios retains WBC welterweight championship with tight decision over Manny Pacquiao
Mario Barrios retained the WBC welterweight championship after a majority draw against Manny Pacquiao on his comeback to the ring. The 46-year-old Pacquiao was ahead going into the 10th round in Las Vegas, but all three judges scored the final three rounds for his younger opponent. Two judges scored the draw, but the third gave Barrios a 115-113 victory. Pacquiao entered the fight aiming to break his own record as the oldest welterweight champion, which he set in 2019 at age 40. Barrios entered as the betting favourite but failed to deliver a convincing victory. "I thought I won the fight," Pacquiao said in the aftermath of the loss. "A close fight. My opponent was very tough. A wonderful fighter." Barrios, a 30-year-old from San Antonio, hoped to bounce back from a split-decision draw on November 15 against Abel Ramos, but didn't exactly come away with an emphatic victory in improving to 29-2-2. The heavily pro-Pacquiao crowd loudly booed the decision. "It was an honor to share the ring with him," Barrios said. "This is by far the biggest event I've had to date, and we came in here and left everything in the ring. I have nothing but respect for Manny. "His stamina is crazy. He's still strong as hell and his timing is real. He's still a very awkward fighter to try to figure out." In the night's co-main event, Sebastian Fundora retained his WBC super welterweight title after Australian Tim Tszyu did not come out for the eighth round of their rematch.
