On Saturday, tall American southpaw Sebastian Fundora defeated previously undefeated Australian Tim Tzu in a bloody spectacle to unify two world junior middleweight boxing titles.
After a strong start, Tszyu In the second round, he accidentally hit his head on the 6-foot-5 (1.97 m) challenger's left elbow, opening a deep bleeding wound above his forehand, and the Australian's face turned bright red with each round and lasted most of the match. During that time, he was blinded by blood.
The judges' scores were 116-112 and 115-113 for Fundora and 116-112 for Tszyu, giving the American fighter a split decision win, giving Tszyu the World Boxing Organization junior middleweight title and the vacant World Boxing Council Championship. obtained.
„I'm really happy that Tim Tzu gave me this opportunity and that my dream came true,“ Fandora said. “It was an honor to share the belt and make history with him the way I won the belt.”
Fundora, 26, improved to 21-1 with one draw and became the tallest 154-pound champion in history, while Tszyu fell to 24-1.
Tszyu, The 29-year-old from Sydney, the son of former light welterweight world champion Kostya Tsi, admitted the red blood in his face throughout the night affected his efforts.
„I couldn't see it,“ Tsi said. “But all the credit goes to the man who won.
„These things happen. The momentum was rolling. You were swinging hard. Then, boom, you go blind.
„Congratulations to Sebastian. He's a king at 154. We'll bounce back.“
The other three world title bouts on the Las Vegas card included Mexico's Julio Cesar Martinez retaining the WBC flyweight title, Cuba's Erislandy Lara retaining the World Boxing Association middleweight title, and Mexico's Julio Cesar Martinez retaining the WBC flyweight title. Isaac Cruz has won the WBA super lightweight title from American Rolando Romero.
Tse was scheduled to face former welterweight world champion Keith Thurman, but the American injured himself in practice and was replaced by Fundora, who was moved from the undercard bout two weeks earlier.
„The time given to me was a week. There are no excuses,“ Tszyu said of his opponent's switch.
In the first round, Tszyu landed a hard right to Fundora's head, and the champion quickly found his timing and range, but while filming inside, his head hit Fundora's elbow and he started bleeding. The game completely changed.
Tszyu was examined by a doctor after the second and sixth rounds and was cleared to continue in both rounds.
The Australian, occasionally wiping blood from his eyes, tried to attack his towering rival, who used his overwhelming reach advantage to try to frustrate Tszyu.
Lara, who will turn 41 in April, knocked out Australian Michael Zerafa in 2 minutes and 59 seconds of the second round, improving his record to 30 wins, 3 losses, and 3 draws, and clinched the WBA middleweight title with his 18th KO win. Maintained.
Lara landed a right jab and a lightning left to the jaw, sending Zerafa flying backwards and ending the Australian's first world title fight.
Zerafa, 32, fell to 31-5 with his second KO loss, but his first KO loss came in 2015, his only fight in the United States.
Title at divisional debut
Cruz, 25, moved up in weight and made a spectacular debut in the 140-pound division, stopping Romero in eight rounds and 56 seconds to win the super lightweight title.
Cruz picked up his 18th win with an early stop, improving his record to 26 wins and 2 losses, including one draw. Romero fell to 15-2.
Martinez retained his flyweight title by defeating undefeated Venezuelan Angelino Cordova by majority decision. Two judges ruled the Mexican the winner 114-112, while the third scored it a tie 113-113.
Martinez improved to 21-2 and defended the crown he won in 2019 for the seventh time, while Cordova fell to 18-1-1.
Cordova was knocked down for the first time in his career in the third round by Martinez with a hard left to the face, but the champion landed another left to the chin shortly after, sending Cordova to the canvas again.
An accidental headbutt late in the 10th round left a blood stain on Martinez's left eyebrow, but the champion held on for the victory.