That’s extremely cruel for Tszyu who fought so bravely throughout the fight and loses a split decision to Fundora,but it’s probably the right call.
Tszyu did incredibly to stay in the fight for the whole contest and credit must go to his cutman for keeping him coming out from Round 3 when he got hit by an unintentional stay elbow from Fundora as he ducked.
After the cut,Tszyu had to throw his game plan out the window,concerned that the doctor was going to stop the fight. He was searching for an overhand right punch on his huge opponent that never landed.
Tszyu was impressively sanguine in defeat,perhaps taking consolation that he should get another opportunity to avenge this loss with a rematch clause penciled in,probably to take place in Australia.
“Look,I told you,I’m an old throwback fighter. I couldn’t see. All credit belongs to the man who won tonight,” Tszyu said.
“These things happen;the momentum was swinging hard in the first two rounds,then boom you’re blinded. This is boxing;these things happen. Congratulations to Fundora. He’s the new king at 154. We will bounce back.”
After such a brave performance,Tszyu’s marketability will have increased in the boxing world,given he stayed in the fight so admirably against the odds while so impaired by blood. It also cannot be forgotten that Fundora was taken with 12 days’ notice against a hugely awkward southpaw opponent,having originally trained to fight Keith Thurman.
Sebastian Fundora surprised many with his disciplined performance. He utilised his physical advantages,which were stark,and sat behind his huge jab that frustrated the partially blinded Australian.
“The first round,I was like damn I didn’t want to break my nose. I’ve been telling everyone that I’m going to use my brain tonight and I hope you saw that,” Fundora said.
“[Tszyu],he’s a world-class fighter. It’s an honour to share a ring and to share history with him.”