Fundora Dominates Tszyu: "Towering Inferno" Retains Title in Strategic Masterclass
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 20 Jul 2025
In a highly anticipated rematch that served as the co-feature to the Pacquiao-Barrios main event on Saturday night (Sunday morning in Manila) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Sebastian "The Towering Inferno" Fundora proved too tall a challenge for Australian warrior Tim Tszyu. Fundora delivered a dominant performance, forcing Tszyu to surrender after seven punishing rounds, securing the WBC super welterweight title defense and improving his record to a formidable 23-1-1, 15 KOs. Tszyu's record now stands at 25-3-0, 18 KOs.
Having previously bested Tszyu in a bloody, close encounter where a cut heavily impacted the outcome, Fundora demonstrated a significant strategic adjustment this time around. The 6'5" southpaw, known for his willingness to brawl on the inside despite his towering frame, opted for a more disciplined, outside-fighting approach. He masterfully utilized his extraordinary height and reach advantage to control the distance, consistently peppering Tszyu with stinging jabs that acted as a barrier, effectively preventing the shorter Australian from getting inside and unleashing his vaunted power.
The tone for the fight was set early. In the very first round, a perfectly timed left semi-uppercut from Fundora found its mark on Tszyu's chin, sending the proud Australian to the canvas. While Tszyu quickly rose, the knockdown underscored Fundora's precision and the efficacy of his new game plan.
As the rounds progressed, the 5'8" Tszyu found himself in a frustrating predicament. He struggled incessantly to navigate past Fundora's relentless, long jabs and zooming left hands. Each attempt to close the distance was met with a barrage, slowly but surely disfiguring Tszyu's face. For Tszyu's avid fans, it was a difficult watch as their proud Australian, despite his well-documented tenacity, was systematically outboxed. Though he occasionally connected with a power shot in flashes, he was largely dominated by Fundora's consistent offense and control.
The accumulation of punishment became undeniable. After enduring a particularly hard whacking in the seventh round, absorbing sustained blows, Tszyu finally conceded. When the bell rang for the eighth round, he remained on his stool, indicating "enough is enough," and the fight was officially waved off.
The definitive victory allows Sebastian Fundora to not only retain his WBC Super Welterweight title but also to emphatically silence any questions about his prior win over Tszyu. His strategic evolution and masterful execution establish him firmly as the king of the division. For Tim Tszyu, this loss marks a challenging moment in his career. Once an undefeated sensation, he now faces critical questions about adapting his aggressive style against top-tier, tricky opponents, and his path forward in the stacked super welterweight division remains to be seen.
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