Strong undercard on Tim Tszyu vs. Sebastian Fundora fight night

In the main event, we have fast-rising Australian star, and WBO super welterweight champion, Tim Tszyu (24-0, 17 KOs) facing Sebastian “The Towering Inferno” Fundora (20-1-1, 13 KOs).

But this new main event isn’t the only intriguing fight on the card. There are a trio of strong undercard fights on deck.

WBA World Super Lightweight title

Rolando Romero (15-1, 13 KO’s) vs. Isaac Cruz 25-2-1 (17 KO’s)

Las Vegas’ Romero, who won his 1st world title in 2020, after turning pro in 2016, had backed up all his boasting through his first 13 fights. But, he ran into a stoppage loss at the hands of lightweight star Gervonta Davis 2 fights ago in May of 2022. He was doing well in the fight until he walked into a “Tank” of a shot that dropped and finished him. He won the WBA 140-pound title in his very next fight, and he doesn’t have an easy 1st assignment in Mexico’s Mike Tyson-esque Isaac Cruz. Romero can box and bang and he may need to do a lot of both to keep his belt.

            Cruz also fought Davis (back in 2021) and gave him a very tough fight losing a close UD. The loss elevated him in the public’s eye and he has run off 3 wins since that fight. At 5’4”, and 140-pounds, height and reach aren’t in his favor. “Pit Bull” needs to let Romero use up some energy early, then get close, bang the body, and not give Romero any place to work. After going hard to the body, Cruz can load up and land the heavy artillery upstairs. After Cruz stands up to a fresh, early-fight Romero he can walk him into a big shot later in the fight.  

WBC World Super Welter Title (Interim)

Brian Mendoza (23-3, 16 KO’s) vs. Serhii Bohachuk (23-1, 23 KO’s)

            OK, there are a lot of familiar players and moving parts here so stay with me. Bohachuk was scheduled to face Fundora who is now in the main event against Tim Tszyu, who in his last fight defeated Mendoza. Now, Mendoza had earned that Tszyu shot by defeating WBC (interim) champ Fundora. Bohachuk will now face Mendoza in what could be a real slug-fest. Bohachuk hasn’t faced anything close to the level of competition that Mendoza has who has faced Tszyu, Fundora, and Jeison Rosario to name a few. What Bohachuk does have is pop with 23 stoppages in 23 wins. But, Mendoza has power as well with 16 KO’s in 22 fights and he is aggressive and tough. The difference in competition could show itself here with Bohachuk’s power not being enough to negate Mendoza’s experience against top-level super welters. I’m a big Mendoza fan and I like him in this one.   

WBA World Middleweight title 

Erislandy Lara 29-3-3 (17 KO’s) vs. Michael Zerafa 31-4, (19 KO’s)

Veteran Lara, who won his first world title 11 years ago, is looking to stay at the championship level in the golden years of his career. Lara has had a very impressive career only losing a disputed SD to superstar Canelo Álvarez, a razor-thin SD to Jarret Hurd, and a very close MD to former world champion Paul Williams (over a decade ago). 

Lara is looking to stay alive as a champion and Zerafa is looking to come alive. Australia’s Zerafa is heading into his 1st world title shot after 35 pro fights. He has a tough assignment in front of him in Lara who is a slick, well-schooled boxer. But Lara turns 41 less than 2 weeks after the fight, so while experience is on his side, age isn’t. If Lara gets old on fight night, Zerafa has a shot. If Lara doesn’t act his age, look for him to leave the ring a champion.