When Keith Thurman got injured in training, the boxing world was in for a surprise. Sebastian Fundora stepped in to face undefeated world titlist Tim Tszyu in Las Vegas on Saturday night. The six and a half inch Californian seized the unexpected opportunity at the T-Mobile Arena. The question loomed: could he defeat the menacing 24-0 Tszyu? With both the WBC and WBO super welterweight titles on the line, the matchup promised to be one of the most intriguing in the sport.
The Battle of Fundora vs. Tszyu
Right from the start, the contrast in size between the towering Fundora and the five-nine Tszyu was nothing short of striking. It almost seemed comical. Despite this, Tszyu wasted no time in pressing forward. Fundora, relying on his jab, found himself on the defensive early on. Tszyu managed to land a solid blow in the final minute of the round, making his presence felt. Fundora took the hit well, but the message was clear. Moving into the second round, Tszyu focused on targeting the body. However, Fundora remained confident in his southpaw jab and landed some effective shots himself towards the middle of the round. Nevertheless, as the round concluded, Tszyu was connecting cleanly with punches to the challenger's head.
As the third round began, it was evident that Tszyu had sustained a significant cut on the top of his head. Despite this, the fight doctor allowed Tszyu to continue. Tszyu intensified his attack on Fundora with determination. In response, Fundora unleashed powerful swings against his bloodied opponent. It was clear that the defending champion was struggling with impaired vision due to the flow of blood. In the fourth round, Fundora relentlessly targeted Tszyu's bloody face. With his vision compromised, Tszyu found it challenging to face his much taller adversary. The fight had become so bloody that even the broadcast camera lens was stained with blood.
Entering the fifth round, Fundora held all the advantages, although he was also spitting out blood. Despite this, Tszyu managed to keep the fight competitive. Fundora, capitalizing on the accidental cut, aimed to secure a world title victory with his long jab – a strategy well within his rights both practically and ethically. The seventh round was remarkable in that the fight continued, remaining closely contested. Fundora may have had a slight edge, but it was clear that he was in for a tough battle.
As the bell rang for the eighth round, Fundora unleashed a barrage of punches, landing them almost at will, while Tszyu focused on attacking the body. Despite the challenging conditions, Tszyu displayed his skill by holding his own in the fight. Fundora, on the other hand, also showed his resilience, with both fighters bearing the marks of battle. Moving into the ninth round, Fundora continued to chip away at his opponent. Tszyu, however, made a strong comeback in the tenth, landing significant head shots and potentially winning the round.
In the eleventh round, Tszyu aimed for impactful punches, while Fundora maintained a high volume of strikes. The final round was a relentless display of jabs from Fundora, with Tszyu having his moments but struggling to make a decisive impact.
Ultimately, the judges awarded the victory to Fundora through a split decision, acknowledging his strategic performance throughout the fight.
