Sebastian Fundora edges Tim Tszyu in bloody 12 rounder

The son of Russian legend Kostya Tszyu was looking to forge his own name in the sport outside of his father. In pre-fight pressers, he spoke openly about wanting to be part of “boxing’s most famous family”. The big question throughout fight week was whether the late change to 6’6” Sebastian Fundora would pose any problems. Tszyu, nothing if not confident, accepted the fight right away and spoke openly about having “no problem” adjusting to a new style as that is just “part of the fight game”.  (Speaking of confidence, Tszyu spent the week on press row fielding questions about a proposed Terence Crawford bout after he takes care of his Fundora assignment). Could Tszyu get inside and deliver the damage? Could Fundora resist the urge to slug and not use his long, lean frame to keep Tszyu at arm’s length? 

In what some will say is a huge upset, Sebastian Fundora won a bloody SD 12 over previously undefeated WBO super welterweight champion Tim Tszyu to capture the WBO and WBC title on Saturday night in front of just under 15,000 people at Las Vegas’s T-Mobile Arena. Tszyu had success early but a bad gash caused blood to drip into his eye all night and it seemed to allow Fundora to chip his way back into the fight by keeping Tszyu at bay with a long jab. Fundora fought a smart fight in the 2nd half using his height over the much shorter Tszyu. In the end, with both fighters drenched in blood, Fundora won by 116-112 and 115-113 over Tszyu’s 116-112. 

After the fight, Fundora was just enjoying the moment and didn’t seem to concerned about what was next.

“We’ve been praying for this moment a long time, and I’m just happy that Tim Tszyu gave me the opportunity. It’s a dream come true,” Fundora said. “He’s a world-class fighter. He was world champion for a reason. The way I won my belt, it’s an honor to share the ring and make history with him.”

Tszyu, clearly disappointed, just wanted to put this night behind him and look to the future.

“I’m a throwback fighter. I couldn’t see, but all credit to the man who won tonight,” Tszyu said. “These things happen. This is boxing, this is part of the sport. This thing happens. Congratulations to Fundora, he’s the new king at 154.

Look, we’ll bounce back. I always bring the fight. I was given one week — no excuses, but I’ll fight whoever, whenever. Errol Spence, I’ll fight him, as well. Even Terence Crawford. You want a good scrap, you know who to call.”

Isaac Cruz (26-2-1, 18 KO) TKO 8 Rolando Romero (15-2, 13 KO ) WBA world super lightweight 

If fan reaction during fight week was any indicator, Isaac Cruz was far and away the most popular fighter on the card. The pressers, hotel sightings, and open workouts resulted in mobs of people chanting “Pit Bull, Pit Bull”. He is as polite and friendly a man as you’ll meet out of the ring. But, he is indeed a pit bull in it, clearly earning the name “The Mexican Mike Tyson”. 

Las Vegas’s own, born and raised, Romero was saying all week that he would easily dispatch Cruz. “Everybody thinks this is gonna be a difficult fight, but I think this is gonna be an easy fight. He’s gonna run right into something because he’s stupid”.  

Cruz, unfazed by the prediction, seemed to welcome the idea that Romero would be trading big shots with him. 

“I’ve trained so hard to represent the Mexican people. I always fight to make them proud, and this will be no different. Rolly was talking trash during the face off, but his bark was far stronger than his bite. I’m here to wipe Rolly’s smile off his face and take his belt. That’s it. Isaac Cruz is going to be the new world champion.”

Both fighters were very confident going into the fight, but in the end the tight, compact defense of Cruz, along with the relentless pressure, was just too much for Romero.  After hurting him several times in the fight, especially near the end of the 7th, the referee stepped in to stop it when Cruz hurt Romero again in the 8th. 

After the fight, Romero thanked the crowd and said he would be back. 

Meanwhile, Cruz, to the deafening roar of the crowd, thanked all of his fans in Las Vegas and Mexico, promising to “take on all the best fighters at 140 pounds” and vowing to “be a champion for a long time”. A new superstar is emerging in Mexican boxing. 

Erislandy Lara (30-3-3, 18 KO) KO 2 Michael Zarafa (31-5, 19 KO) WBA world middleweight. 

Lara was looking to make the 2nd title defense of his belt, in his 2nd title run. Zarafa was looking to join countryman Tim Tszyu as a world champion. After a technical start to the bout, Lara landed a beautiful straight left off a southpaw jab that dropped and stopped Zarafa. An impressive performance by a veteran in his 40s.

Julio Caesar Martinez (21-3, 15 KO) WMD 12 Angelina Cordova(18-1-1, 12 KO ) WBC world flyweight. 

Long-reigning champ Martinez was looking to make title defense #7 and Cordova was looking for his first title win. In a beauty of a slug-fest, that saw lots of 2-way action, both fighters had their moments. The 2 knockdowns scored by champion Martinez, who suffered a bad cut from an accidental head butt, was a big factor in the fight. In the end, the champion held on to his title by MD 12. ( 113-113 and 114-112 x 2.). 

Serhii Bohachuk (24-1, 23 KO ) WUD 12 Brian Mendoza(22-4, 16 KO) interim WBC world super welterweight

Mendoza gained fame for a highlight KO of headliner Fundora in a fight that earned him a shot at champion Tszyu. After losing a distance fight to Tszyu, he was looking to get back on top. But on this night, while game and competitive, he was outworked by a determined Bohachuk who carried the action throughout the fight. Mendoza had a few late fight surges but it wasn’t nearly enough. The judges rewarded the Ukrainian by scores of 118-110 and 117-111 x 2. Bohachuk heads back to his adopted home of LA with the WBC interim super welter belt. 

Carmel Moton (3-0, 2 KO) WUD 8 Anthony Cuba (7-1-2, 3 KO) super featherweight

Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s protégé Moton looked very good for a 17-year-old in going toe toe-to-toe for 8 rounds (in only his 3rd fight) with a rugged, more experienced, and previously undefeated Cuba. 

Off TV

Micro Cuello WUD 8 Salaiman Segawa featherweight 

Kaipo Gallegos WUD 6 Eric Howard super featherweight 

Adrian Neves WUD4 Stephen Walker super lightweight