Tim Tszyu has vowed to knockout Sebastian Fundora in their rematch and make his family the greatest in boxing history

News.com.au

19-07-2025

Tim Tszyu has vowed to deliver a 'devastating' knockout of Sebastian Fundora and finally conquer America as he outlined his mission to make the Tszyu clan the greatest family in boxing history.
The 'Soul Taker' concedes his career is on the line when Tszyu (25-2, 18KO) looks to avenge his blood-stained loss last year to Fundora (21-1-1, 14KO) in Sunday's super welterweight world-title rematch in Las Vegas.
It has been 476 days since Tszyu lost his WBO world title to Fundora after a heartbreaking split-decision defeat at T-Mobile Arena marred by a shocking head gash that saw him bravely fight through a fountain of blood for 10 rounds.
Now Tszyu is back in Sin City to atone for his pugilistic sins, this time at MGM's Grand Garden Arena, the very venue where his famous father Kostya destroyed Zab Judah in 2001 to become the undisputed champion of the world at super lightweight.
'The Thunder from Down Under' produced the greatest knockout of his career to ice Judah in two rounds — and Tszyu will tap into his family's menacing history at MGM to maul Fundora.
In their first fight, Tszyu was dominating Fundora for the opening two rounds before a savage gash derailed the Australian, but this time, the Sydneysider says, cut-free, the 'Towering Inferno' will go up in flames.
'I will win by knockout,' Tszyu declared ahead of the biggest fight of his career.
'I feel like this is the one.
'I won't just win, but it will be in devastating fashion.
'I just remember feeling Fundora, seeing him, understanding him. I remember what he brings, certain shots. I remember him and I want to feel him in there and be in control the whole time.
'I remember feeling his power and thinking, 'Is that it?'
'A true champion rises to the occasion, gets back up, and I'm ready to get back up.
'I have to control the fight round by round, stay patient, and when the punch does come - and it will come - he will be asleep.'
For all the traditional pre-fight hype, hoopla and mind games, the reality is the jury remains out on Tszyu as a global force.
The two-time world-champion hopeful has a goal to conquer America _ but he hasn't yet.
In his last two visits on US soil, he was beaten by Fundora, who holds the WBC world title, before suffering a brutal third-round beatdown in Orlando last October against Bakhram Murtazaliev, the ruthless Russian who sent Tszyu crashing to the canvas four times in eight minutes of mayhem.
Now, steeled by his emphatic disposal of American Joey Spencer in April, Tszyu is beginning to pick up the pieces. He won't be satisfied until he puts together the most formidable family jigsaw in world boxing.
With Kostya a four-time world champion, Tim eyeing a second world title and younger brother Nikita (10-0) now a world-ranked fighter, the 30-year-old pledged to make the Tszyus boxing's royal family.
'One of my big ambitions is to overtake my dad,' he said.
'My biggest driver is my dad. His aura. I've had to create my own identity and to do that, I have to surpass him.
'Not to disrespect him, but my No.1 goal is to make sure the Tszyu family is the greatest boxing family that has ever lived.
'My goal remains the same: pursue greatness and conquer America, it's simple.
'Vegas is the Mecca ... you make it here, you have made it in the world of boxing.'
Fundora, currently the tallest world champion in boxing at 197cm, a staggering 22cm taller than Tszyu, lobbed the first verbal grenade at his rival last week by claiming his blood-affected eyesight was perfectly fine.
Tszyu hit back by claiming Fundora hits 'like a cheese stick', but the skyscraper slugger has upped the ante. The American says he is hungrier than Tszyu, and believes he will win more emphatically in the rematch.
'I do think I'll win more easily,' he said.
'I tell my dad the ones I hate are the good ones, and I hate this one. I want it more.
'I want the best version of Tim Tszyu. He is world class, a world champion ... it's just the Towering Inferno is that much better.
'This time I will execute a lot faster.
'I hope everything that he went through in our first fight makes him that much better, so there's no excuses.
'I am going in there all guns blazing. I'm going in there to hurt him.'
A third loss in 12 months would be catastrophic for Tszyu. It would all-but destroy his plan to be the top dog in the 154-pound division.
There is a view a second Fundora loss would be a fatal blow to his American dream.
Asked if his career is on the line on Sunday when he walks into the MGM Grand arena his father graced two decades ago, Tszyu said: 'Yep, this is how I am approaching it.
'This is it. I am all in.
'Live by the shield, die by the shield, that's how I see it.
'I need to win and I will win, trust me.'