Sebastian Fundora is focused on honouring the rematch with Tim Tszyu
Sampson Lewkowicz, the sole promoter of brand-new unified WBC and WBO 154-Pound World Champion Sebastian “The Towering Inferno” Fundora, wishes to clarify his position on a potential rematch with now former champ and previously unbeaten Tim Tszyu.
“We were all so eager to make this fight that many of our agreements were made verbally. There wasn’t enough time,” explained Lewkowicz. “But I wish to make it clear that Team Fundora will honour the agreement. My word is always equal to a signed contract. Tim Tszyu, your rematch is ready when you are.”
Lewkowicz says the Fundora vs. Tszyu rematch will happen, with the only deciding factor being if Tszyu would like to do it immediately or if he prefers the fighters take an interim fight each beforehand.
“It all depends on Tim Tszyu,” said Lewkowicz. “If he doesn’t take the rematch, we will take the WBO mandatory or Spence, whatever the WBO says, but the first priority is the rematch with Tim Tszyu.”
In one of the bloodiest and most exciting fights of the past decade, Fundora won the titles by taking home a split-decision over Tszyu in the main event of the inaugural PBC Pay-Per-View available on Prime Video Saturday night from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. One judge scored the fight 116-112 for Tszyu but was overruled by scores of 116-112 and 115-113 for Fundora.
Tszyu (24-1, 17 KOs) fought well in the first two rounds, almost landing straight right hands at will before running into an incidental elbow from Fundora (21-1-1, 13 KOs) in round two, which opened a massive cut on the top of his head. Bravely, Tszyu fought on but, with his vision compromised, he was not the same fighter against Fundora’s newly rediscovered jab and superb work rate for the rest of the fight.
Fundora, who became the second world champion in his family, following his sister Gabriela, the current IBF Flyweight World Champion (both are trained by their father and certain Trainer of the Year candidate, Freddy) was also forced to deal with blood flowing, as a badly broken nose hampered his breathing for most of the fight. Undaunted, the new champ focused on using his significant reach advantage to consistently pepper Tszyu with jabs and clubbing left hands from the southpaw stance.
“Both fighters proved their tremendous hearts in this fight,” said Lewkowicz.
“The elbow was a complete accident, but it showed Tim Tszyu’s greatness in continuing to fight when he could have quit. And Sebastian Fundora was swallowing his own blood for 10 rounds and still was able to beat one of the best in his division. It was a sensational fight, and we are ready to do it again when Tim is ready. Congratulations to both fighters. There were no losers Saturday night. The boxing fans won by witnessing it. Amazon Prime Video won with an amazing first show and both fighters won by proving their greatness in front of the whole world.”