Tim Tszyu Reflects on Fundora Fight and Upcoming Title Shot
Tszyu felt that stopping the fight would go against his competitive spirit. He described his mentality as one of resilience, stating, “I’d rather die in that ring, and that’s the mentality I’ve got.” His determination led to a grueling contest where he fought through the injury, landing significant punches against the taller Fundora, who eventually regained control of the fight.
Tim Tszyu, the 29-year-old Australian boxer, recently spoke about his experience during his split decision loss to Sebastian Fundora on March 30 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Tszyu's handlers faced criticism for not advocating for a stoppage of the fight after he suffered a deep cut on the top of his head in the second round, a wound that significantly impacted the bout's outcome.
The cut was caused by an accidental clash during the fight, leaving Tszyu with a severe injury that resulted in blood pouring down his face and obstructing his vision. Despite the adversity, Tszyu had no intention of forfeiting or seeking a no-contest decision. “For me, it was, you know, like if you’re gonna lose, you gotta lose that way,” he explained. “I’m not gonna try and survive. I was there to win. And the only way to win for me was trying to smash my opponent.”
Tszyu felt that stopping the fight would go against his competitive spirit. He described his mentality as one of resilience, stating, “I’d rather die in that ring, and that’s the mentality I’ve got.” His determination led to a grueling contest where he fought through the injury, landing significant punches against the taller Fundora, who eventually regained control of the fight.
With a professional record of 24 wins (17 KOs) and one loss, Tszyu is set to return to the ring this Saturday night in Orlando, Florida. He will challenge Bakhram Murtazaliev for the IBF junior middleweight title in a 12-round main event. This match comes after Tszyu's momentum-building victories over notable opponents like Tony Harrison, Carlos Ocampo, and Brian Mendoza.
Tszyu's cut man, Mark Gambin, will not be in his corner for this fight, as he has been recovering from an appendectomy. Joe Quiambo will step in to support Tszyu. Despite the setback with the cut, Tszyu expressed confidence in his ability to handle the challenges of the fight. He reflected on the intensity of his previous injury, noting the difference in the severity of the blood flow compared to past experiences. “I’ve never had that before… I was feeling so confident – what’s the task of getting through this?”
Tszyu has learned from his fight against Fundora and is ready to showcase his skills again in pursuit of championship glory.
