Fundora Defeats Tszyu in Thrilling Undercard Bout
In a thrilling undercard bout at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Sebastian Fundora showcased his boxing prowess as he defeated Tim Tszyu for the second time, retaining his WBC super welterweight title with a 7th-round TKO.
Fight Overview
The fight, which was part of the event featuring Manny Pacquiao facing Manny Barrios, saw Fundora improve his record to 23 wins, 1 loss, and 1 draw, with 15 of those victories coming by way of knockout. Tim Tszyu, hailing from Australia, saw his record drop to 25 wins and 3 losses after this defeat, which adds to his challenges against Fundora.
Previous Encounter
Fundora, known as The Towering Inferno, initially faced Tszyu in March 2024 on short notice, stepping in to replace Keith Thurman. That match ended controversially for Tszyu, as a severe cut incurred in the second round allowed Fundora to pull off an upset win by split decision.
Fight Highlights
This rematch, however, was markedly different from their first encounter. Fundora wasted no time establishing his dominance, dropping Tszyu in the very first round with a powerful left hand. Following an exchange of punches, Tszyu found himself on the canvas, struggling to recover from Fundora’s strikes.
As the fight progressed into the second round, Fundora continued to control the action, landing a flurry of long-range punches that left Tszyu on the ropes, barely escaping a potential stoppage.
Despite the odds, Tszyu showed resilience, managing to land some effective combinations in the fourth and fifth rounds, even catching Fundora with a left hook at the end of the fourth. Fundora, however, regained his momentum in the subsequent rounds, utilizing his effective jab to keep Tszyu at bay.
Conclusion
The match escalated in intensity during the seventh round, as both fighters exchanged fierce blows. However, Tszyu’s corner ultimately made the difficult decision not to send him back into the ring for the eighth round, as the referee sought their input on his fighter’s ability to continue.
This victory allows Fundora to solidify his status in the super welterweight division, while Tszyu will need to regroup after this hard-fought match. For those interested in a detailed overview of the Pacquiao vs Barrios event, including real-time updates and highlights, Uncrowned’s dedicated hub offers extensive coverage on the fight card.
