Tszyu vs Fundora Fight Results: Fundora Wins A Bloody Split Decision

The 6-foot 6 Fundora, who replaced Keith Thurman (ruptured biceps) on 12 days’ notice and stepped into his first title shot coming off his first pro defeat, joins sister Gabriela, IBF flyweight champion, as an active world champion. Tszyu started strong, sweeping the first two rounds, but at the end of the second, the top of his head was split open by an accidental elbow from Fundora, leaving him with a horrendous cut, and the bout changed trajectories.

While Tszyu’s head streamed blood for the rest of the fight, Fundora’s nose did much of the same. And the fight became a battle of wills, with both fighters refusing to give an inch. “I’ve been praying for this moment a long time,” said Fundora. “I’m happy Tim Tszyu gave me the opportunity for my dream to come true. This is boxing. You’re going to get hurt. I just had to use my brain. I hope you guys could see I used my brain.

“He’s a world-class for a reason, the way I won my belt. It’s an honor to make history with him,” Fundora added.“I couldn’t see, all credit to him,” said a dejected Tszyu. “Momentum was rolling in the first two rounds, and then boom… This is boxing. These things happen. Congratulations to Fundora.“We’ll bounce back. I showed up, and I always stand up. I’ll fight whoever, whenever. Terence Crawford, if you want a good scrap, you know who to call.”

A crowd of 14,726 saw Sydney’s Tszyu fall to 24-1 (17 KOs), while 25-year-old Fundora of Coachella, California, rises to 21-1-1 (13 KOs). The first round was a tentative one, but Tszyu landed the best punch of the frame with a straight right hand that jolted Fundora’s head back.

In the second, both fighters probed for openings. Tszyu targeted the body and found success with several rights to the stomach. However, after connecting with another series of rights, Tszyu walked back to his corner, and it was clear something had gone awry. Fundora was covered in shades of blood, but the source was Tszyu, who had sustained a deep cut to the left of his scalp. Replay showed that Tszyu was struck with an accidental elbow that had taken a chunk of Tszyu’s head with it. Meanwhile, across the ring, Fundora’s nose was pumping blood.

As a result, the third round looked like both men were auditioning to appear in a Saw movie. Tszyu spent much of the action pawing at the blood, while Fundora found an opportunity to attack and consistently knocked Tszyu’s head back with his southpaw jab.

Everything had changed. Tszyu continued to throw, but Fundora was making pay. However, the wounds were becoming extensive for both sides. As both fighters exited their respective corners for the fifth round, Fundora’s nose and mouth were hemorrhaging blood, and Tszyu was looking like Harvey Dent at the end of The Dark Knight. Fundora’s corner began to manage their fighter’s blood better, but Tszyu’s head wound from the elbow continued to gush like a broken faucet.

Fundora attempted to get his jab working again in the sixth, but Tszyu was tagging him with counter rights. This gave the Aussie’s team precious time in between rounds to work on the scalp cut, but nothing seemed to be working. The ringside physician inspected Tszyu before allowing the seventh round to get underway. Fundora maintained the same strategy of trying to keep Tszyu at bay with the jab, all while taking vicious artillery in the process. It was a battle of plasma, so bloody that the ring mat had turned mostly orange throughout the process.

Tszyu continued to push forward albeit his head continued to spew blood down his forehead and into his eyes. If anyone doubted if Tszyu had a heart, their mouths were glued shut as he continued to fight through the magma seething through his eyes and fired right hands that connected on Fundora. Tszyu hurt his man with a right to the body, but he fired back with a left hook to halt Tszyu’s assault.

Fundora regained control in the 11th and 12th rounds as Tszyu couldn’t stay out of the way of the jab. The entire arena drenched in red liquid, Tszyu and Fundora miraculously survived the 12-round war. “The Towering Inferno” had only been the champion for a few moments before learning of what could potentially be his next war.

Sebastian Fundora vs Errol Spence Jr Next?

Errol Spence Jr. entered stage left. “It’s time to get it on. He’s got the big dog now. He’s got pretty good height, but we’re going can break him down,” the former unified welterweight champion stated as he sized up Fundora.

Fundora said he’s ready for the challenge. “He’s one of the greats right now, so I’d like to fight him. He’s one of the pound-for-pound best right now.”

Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz Destroys Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero & A Flyweight War

In the co-main event, Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz (26-2-1, 18 KOs) terminated Rolly Romero (15-2, 13 KOs) in an emphatic eighth-round TKO to win the WBA junior welterweight world title. Cruz dominated from the onset and poured on the pressure en route to a highlight-reel finish.

On the undercard, Erislandy Lara retained his WBA 160-pound title with a second-round TKO over Michael Zerafa. The Cuban countered a lazy jab with a short right hook followed by a crunching straight left hand that sent Zerafa (31-5, 15 KOs) to the canvas. The Australian rose to his feet but was on very wobbly legs and shook his head no multiple times, signaling to the referee that he did not wish to continue.

Julio Cesar Martinez retained the WBC 112-pound world title in a 12-round bloody war over Angelino Cordova. Martinez, who improved to 11-3 (15 KOs) with a majority decision triumph, scored two knockdowns over his previously unbeaten opponent.

Serhii Bohachuk improved to 24-1 (23 KOs), as he won by decision for the first time in 25 fights over late replacement Brian Mendoza, who drops to 22-4 (16 KOs).

Curmel “Big Deal” Moton (3-0, 2 KOs) dazzled and shined against Anthony Cuba, who drops to 7-1-2 (3 KOs).