Sebastian Fundora won his first fight against Tim Tszyu, but an unintentional elbow caused a severe cut that affected Tszyu during that bout. In their recent match, Fundora delivered a convincing performance as he kept his WBC junior middleweight title, with Tszyu retiring in his corner during the co-main event of the Manny Pacquiao vs. Mario Barrios PPV event held in Las Vegas.
Fundora swiftly sent a strong message to Tszyu by landing a powerful left in the first round, knocking Tszyu to the canvas. Although Tszyu got back up, it took him several rounds to recover fully.
Fundora, noted for his height advantage in the 154-pound category, employed his reach victoriously, hitting Tszyu with jabs and striking lefts that seemed impossible to evade.
Tszyu gradually found his footing, having some success with hard left hooks and overhand rights in the sixth and seventh rounds. Nonetheless, he was met with a barrage of punches from Fundora.
After the seventh round, which could be considered Tszyu’s strongest, the referee checked Tszyu in his corner. The response was discouraging, indicating that Tszyu had nothing left to give.
“@SebastianFundo1 and @Tim_Tszyu Picking up where they left off, trading haymakers and leaving it all in the ring.
pic.twitter.com/BY1J75aRdq” — Premier Boxing Champions (@premierboxing) on July 20, 2025
“He is a tough competitor,” Tszyu remarked regarding his decision to halt the fight. “I put forth my best effort, but I simply couldn’t continue. The win belongs to Sebastian Fundora, the finest fighter at 154 pounds today. He was just better than me… He’s hard to hit. His height complicates matters greatly; sometimes I felt like I was fighting against a shadow.”
Fundora demonstrated maturity in his fighting style, having transitioned from engaging in direct exchanges early in his career, considering his notable height advantage.
Post-fight, Fundora acknowledged his growth, stating, “I realize I’m not going to grow anymore; I’m done drinking milk.” Understanding this, he chose to maximize his physical advantages.
“I recognized I’m the superior fighter,” Fundora declared. “People told me I’m a bully in the ring, so I decided to play to that strength… Looking in the mirror this morning, I realized I possess reach.”
