'Life and death': Tszyu out to atone in Fundora rematch
Tszyu (25-2, 18KOs) will fly out of Australia on Friday intent on righting the wrongs of a cruel split-decision loss to Fundora (22-1-1, 14KOs) in boxing's mecca last March.
The American has sportingly offered Tszyu the chance to reclaim the WBO super-welterweight belt he relinquished 16 months ago after a stray Fundora elbow left the Sydney slayer fighting 10 rounds virtually blinded as blood flowed uncontrollably from a savage head wound.
After also suffering a subsequent brutal knockout loss to Russian Bakhram Murtazaliev in Florida in October, Tszyu knows his global reputation - and career - will be on the line at the famed MGM Grand on June 20 (AEST).
"We're both on each other's blacklist. What am I going to be nervous about? There's nothing to be nervous about.
"He should be the one that's nervous because he had me in a lot of trouble with this cut and now, when I'm coming in fresh, it's a whole different story.
"It's a more serious, calculated one. He's going to be in a lot of trouble.
"The feeling is different. It's not just a win. To have his body lying on the floor. That's what I've envisaged.
"Everything's life and death in this sport. Kill or be killed."
Both fighters accdepted the 2024 bout on 12 days' notice after Tszyu's initial opponent, Keith Thurman, suffered a biceps injury.
But Tszyu is adamant having 10 weeks to train properly for the 203cm high "Towering Inferno" is definitely his advantage this time around.
The 30-year-old has flown a succession of like-for-like tall southpaws into Sydney to spar with him in preparation for the unique Fundora challenge.
He was preparing for (Serhii) Bohachuc at that time. He's an eastern European fighter, sort of similar style like myself, so he was getting in that work and I went to a completely different style," Tszyu said on Wednesday.
"But, yeah, no excuses this time around. It's no stone unturned."
Describing 2025 as his "avengeance" year, Australia's former WBO strap holder earned his crack at a second world title with victory over rising American Joey Spencer in Newcastle in March.
"I feel like I got the momentum back," Tszyu said. "And I've got more to prove.
"When I rewrite this chapter, it's going to be one hell of a story and that's the leading motivation right there.
"It's more about the story. The US fight fans, they know, they understand what I'm all about and that I bring it, I bring the action and and all of that stuff.
"It's just proving it in my story. Not to anyone really. But just proving it."
With a "kill or be killed" mindset, Tim Tszyu is already envisioning Sebastian Fundora's body laying prone on the canvas in the pair's much anticipated world title rematch in Las Vegas.
Tszyu (25-2, 18KOs) will fly out of Australia on Friday intent on righting the wrongs of a cruel split-decision loss to Fundora (22-1-1, 14KOs) in boxing's mecca last March.
The American has sportingly offered Tszyu the chance to reclaim the WBO super-welterweight belt he relinquished 16 months ago after a stray Fundora elbow left the Sydney slayer fighting 10 rounds virtually blinded as blood flowed uncontrollably from a savage head wound.
After also suffering a subsequent brutal knockout loss to Russian Bakhram Murtazaliev in Florida in October, Tszyu knows his global reputation - and career - will be on the line at the famed MGM Grand on June 20 (AEST).
"We're both on each other's blacklist. What am I going to be nervous about? There's nothing to be nervous about.
"He should be the one that's nervous because he had me in a lot of trouble with this cut and now, when I'm coming in fresh, it's a whole different story.
"It's a more serious, calculated one. He's going to be in a lot of trouble.
"The feeling is different. It's not just a win. To have his body lying on the floor. That's what I've envisaged.
"Everything's life and death in this sport. Kill or be killed."
Both fighters accdepted the 2024 bout on 12 days' notice after Tszyu's initial opponent, Keith Thurman, suffered a biceps injury.
But Tszyu is adamant having 10 weeks to train properly for the 203cm high "Towering Inferno" is definitely his advantage this time around.
The 30-year-old has flown a succession of like-for-like tall southpaws into Sydney to spar with him in preparation for the unique Fundora challenge.
He was preparing for (Serhii) Bohachuc at that time. He's an eastern European fighter, sort of similar style like myself, so he was getting in that work and I went to a completely different style," Tszyu said on Wednesday.
"But, yeah, no excuses this time around. It's no stone unturned."
Describing 2025 as his "avengeance" year, Australia's former WBO strap holder earned his crack at a second world title with victory over rising American Joey Spencer in Newcastle in March.
"I feel like I got the momentum back," Tszyu said. "And I've got more to prove.
"When I rewrite this chapter, it's going to be one hell of a story and that's the leading motivation right there.
"It's more about the story. The US fight fans, they know, they understand what I'm all about and that I bring it, I bring the action and and all of that stuff.
"It's just proving it in my story. Not to anyone really. But just proving it."
With a "kill or be killed" mindset, Tim Tszyu is already envisioning Sebastian Fundora's body laying prone on the canvas in the pair's much anticipated world title rematch in Las Vegas.
Tszyu (25-2, 18KOs) will fly out of Australia on Friday intent on righting the wrongs of a cruel split-decision loss to Fundora (22-1-1, 14KOs) in boxing's mecca last March.
The American has sportingly offered Tszyu the chance to reclaim the WBO super-welterweight belt he relinquished 16 months ago after a stray Fundora elbow left the Sydney slayer fighting 10 rounds virtually blinded as blood flowed uncontrollably from a savage head wound.
After also suffering a subsequent brutal knockout loss to Russian Bakhram Murtazaliev in Florida in October, Tszyu knows his global reputation - and career - will be on the line at the famed MGM Grand on June 20 (AEST).
"We're both on each other's blacklist. What am I going to be nervous about? There's nothing to be nervous about.
"He should be the one that's nervous because he had me in a lot of trouble with this cut and now, when I'm coming in fresh, it's a whole different story.
"It's a more serious, calculated one. He's going to be in a lot of trouble.
"The feeling is different. It's not just a win. To have his body lying on the floor. That's what I've envisaged.
"Everything's life and death in this sport. Kill or be killed."
Both fighters accdepted the 2024 bout on 12 days' notice after Tszyu's initial opponent, Keith Thurman, suffered a biceps injury.
But Tszyu is adamant having 10 weeks to train properly for the 203cm high "Towering Inferno" is definitely his advantage this time around.
The 30-year-old has flown a succession of like-for-like tall southpaws into Sydney to spar with him in preparation for the unique Fundora challenge.
He was preparing for (Serhii) Bohachuc at that time. He's an eastern European fighter, sort of similar style like myself, so he was getting in that work and I went to a completely different style," Tszyu said on Wednesday.
"But, yeah, no excuses this time around. It's no stone unturned."
Describing 2025 as his "avengeance" year, Australia's former WBO strap holder earned his crack at a second world title with victory over rising American Joey Spencer in Newcastle in March.
"I feel like I got the momentum back," Tszyu said. "And I've got more to prove.
"When I rewrite this chapter, it's going to be one hell of a story and that's the leading motivation right there.
"It's more about the story. The US fight fans, they know, they understand what I'm all about and that I bring it, I bring the action and and all of that stuff.
"It's just proving it in my story. Not to anyone really. But just proving it."
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In the previous game, Hijikata had been 0-40 and three match points down on his own serve but the world No.87 then won the five next points to stay in the hunt. By that time it was 9.30pm and had become so dark on a court without floodlighting that Forcadell insisted he had to call a suspension. Shelton was furious, and the courtside supervisor stepped in quickly amid his complaints. Meanwhile, Hijikata had already swiftly sped away to complete his great escape. The most ridiculous aspect of the affair had been that after he had taken his two-set lead at 8.40pm, the dominant Shelton had already queried with Forcadell whether there was enough time to complete the match. The 22-year-old American also pointed out it was beginning to be slippery at the back of the court and seemed as if he would have been happy for the match to be postponed at that point. Hijikata, perhaps playing for time, had meanwhile disappeared for a strategic comfort break and when the 24-year-old Australian returned, he didn't seem overly enthused about them playing on. Indeed, after slipping on the grass at 1-3 down, he pointedly told Forcadell: "No mate, you're not the one out there running and moving." Ultimately, though, there was no way back on Friday as Shelton ruthlessly booked his third round date with Hungarian 'lucky loser' Marton Fucsovics, who also completed victory in a resumed contest, knocking out crowd favourite Gael Monfils 6-4 1-6 4-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-4. Australian Rinky Hijikata's daydream of pulling off the greatest of Wimbledon escapes against American big-hitter Ben Shelton lasted less than a minute when the pair resumed their controversially suspended late-evening match. Hijikata had got the unexpected chance to live to fight another day after saving three match points and then being reprieved by a controversial postponement of play on Thursday night amid farcical scenes as darkness descended. But when the match resumed on No.2 Court in the Friday afternoon sunshine with No.10 seed Shelton serving for the match, everyone could see the funny side once he won all four points in just 55 seconds, including three booming aces, to complete the straightforward 6-2 7-5 6-3 victory in two hours 12 minutes. Sydneysider Hijikata, who had been unable to dent the two-time grand semi-finalist's delivery all match, couldn't help but grin ruefully as any chance of him becoming the fourth Australian to qualify for the third round alongside Alex de Minaur, Jordan Thompson and Daria Kasatkina was blasted away. Shelton's four unreturnable serves were timed at 141mph (ace), 107mph, 140mph (ace) and 118mph (ace) as he was left all smiles as opposed to the previous night when he had been raging over Spanish chair umpire Nacho Forcadell calling off play just when he was about to step up and issue the coup de grace. In the previous game, Hijikata had been 0-40 and three match points down on his own serve but the world No.87 then won the five next points to stay in the hunt. By that time it was 9.30pm and had become so dark on a court without floodlighting that Forcadell insisted he had to call a suspension. Shelton was furious, and the courtside supervisor stepped in quickly amid his complaints. Meanwhile, Hijikata had already swiftly sped away to complete his great escape. The most ridiculous aspect of the affair had been that after he had taken his two-set lead at 8.40pm, the dominant Shelton had already queried with Forcadell whether there was enough time to complete the match. The 22-year-old American also pointed out it was beginning to be slippery at the back of the court and seemed as if he would have been happy for the match to be postponed at that point. Hijikata, perhaps playing for time, had meanwhile disappeared for a strategic comfort break and when the 24-year-old Australian returned, he didn't seem overly enthused about them playing on. Indeed, after slipping on the grass at 1-3 down, he pointedly told Forcadell: "No mate, you're not the one out there running and moving." Ultimately, though, there was no way back on Friday as Shelton ruthlessly booked his third round date with Hungarian 'lucky loser' Marton Fucsovics, who also completed victory in a resumed contest, knocking out crowd favourite Gael Monfils 6-4 1-6 4-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-4. Australian Rinky Hijikata's daydream of pulling off the greatest of Wimbledon escapes against American big-hitter Ben Shelton lasted less than a minute when the pair resumed their controversially suspended late-evening match. Hijikata had got the unexpected chance to live to fight another day after saving three match points and then being reprieved by a controversial postponement of play on Thursday night amid farcical scenes as darkness descended. But when the match resumed on No.2 Court in the Friday afternoon sunshine with No.10 seed Shelton serving for the match, everyone could see the funny side once he won all four points in just 55 seconds, including three booming aces, to complete the straightforward 6-2 7-5 6-3 victory in two hours 12 minutes. Sydneysider Hijikata, who had been unable to dent the two-time grand semi-finalist's delivery all match, couldn't help but grin ruefully as any chance of him becoming the fourth Australian to qualify for the third round alongside Alex de Minaur, Jordan Thompson and Daria Kasatkina was blasted away. Shelton's four unreturnable serves were timed at 141mph (ace), 107mph, 140mph (ace) and 118mph (ace) as he was left all smiles as opposed to the previous night when he had been raging over Spanish chair umpire Nacho Forcadell calling off play just when he was about to step up and issue the coup de grace. In the previous game, Hijikata had been 0-40 and three match points down on his own serve but the world No.87 then won the five next points to stay in the hunt. By that time it was 9.30pm and had become so dark on a court without floodlighting that Forcadell insisted he had to call a suspension. Shelton was furious, and the courtside supervisor stepped in quickly amid his complaints. Meanwhile, Hijikata had already swiftly sped away to complete his great escape. The most ridiculous aspect of the affair had been that after he had taken his two-set lead at 8.40pm, the dominant Shelton had already queried with Forcadell whether there was enough time to complete the match. The 22-year-old American also pointed out it was beginning to be slippery at the back of the court and seemed as if he would have been happy for the match to be postponed at that point. Hijikata, perhaps playing for time, had meanwhile disappeared for a strategic comfort break and when the 24-year-old Australian returned, he didn't seem overly enthused about them playing on. Indeed, after slipping on the grass at 1-3 down, he pointedly told Forcadell: "No mate, you're not the one out there running and moving." Ultimately, though, there was no way back on Friday as Shelton ruthlessly booked his third round date with Hungarian 'lucky loser' Marton Fucsovics, who also completed victory in a resumed contest, knocking out crowd favourite Gael Monfils 6-4 1-6 4-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-4.
