With a “kill or be killed” mentality, Tim Tszyu already envisions Sebastian Fundora lying on the canvas in the highly anticipated rematch for the world title in Las Vegas. Tszyu (25-2, 18KOs) will fly from Australia on Friday with the intention of correcting the mistakes of a cruel split-decision defeat to Fundora (22-1-1, 14KOs) in the mecca of boxing last March. The American has sportingly offered Tszyu the opportunity to reclaim the WBO super welterweight belt he left 16 months ago. After suffering a subsequent and brutal knockout defeat to Russian Bakhram Murtazaliev in Florida in October, Tszyu knows that his world reputation, and his career, will be on the line at the famous MGM Grand on July 20 (AEST).
“He should be the one who’s nervous because he got me into a lot of trouble with this cut and now, when I arrive fresh, it’s a completely different story. “It’s more serious, calculated. He’s going to be in a lot of trouble. “The feeling is different. It’s not just winning. Having his body sprawled on the ground. That’s what I’ve foreseen. “Everything is life or death in this sport. Kill or be killed.” Both boxers accepted the 2024 fight with 12 days’ notice after Tszyu’s initial opponent, Keith Thurman, suffered a biceps injury. But Tszyu insists that having 10 weeks to train properly for the 203cm tall “Tower Inferno” is definitely his advantage this time. The 30-year-old boxer has flown to a succession of tall southpaws similar to Sydney to train with him in preparation for the unique Fundora challenge.“We’re both on each other’s blacklists. What am I going to be nervous about? There’s nothing to be nervous about.” Tszyu said.
Tim Tszyu
“But, yes, there are no excuses this time. No stone has been left unturned.” Describing 2025 as his year of “revenge”, the former Australian WBO belt holder earned his shot at a second world title with the victory over the promising American Joey Spencer in Newcastle in March. “I feel like I got my momentum back,” Tszyu said. “And I have more to prove.” “When I rewrite this chapter, it will be a hell of a story and that is the main motivation at the moment. “It’s more about the story. Boxing fans in the U.S., they know, they understand what it’s about and that I bring action and all that. “It’s just about proving it in my story. Not to anyone really. But just proving it.”“He was preparing for (Serhii) Bohachuk at the time. He’s an Eastern European fighter, of a similar style to mine, so I was doing that work and I went to a completely different style,” Tszyu said on Wednesday.
Tim Tszyu
