Latest news with #SebastianFundora
News.com.au
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
‘No need for them': Tim Tszyu calls out the likes of Sonny Bill Williams, Paul Gallen and Jake Paul
Tim Tszyu has taken a dig at influencers and footy players infiltrating boxing, saying there's 'no need for the rugby players' in the sport. 'The Soul Taker's' comments come three days before his must-win rematch with Sebastian Fundora, and a mere hours after Paul Gallen's win over Sonny Bill Williams in Sydney. Tszyu is in the co-main event of a card to be headlined by the great Manny Pacquiao, and features a cast of fighters the Australian considers 'old school'. It's a far cry from ex-footy players stepping into the ring for a quick payday. It's also a long way removed from the artificial hype around former Disney star turned YouTuber Jake Paul, who has made a boxing career out of fighting washed up UFC fighters. 'It's good that this fight isn't influenced by influencers,' Tszyu said after completing his open workout in front of a huge crowd at the MGM Grand. 'It's influenced by proper boxers, and this is the Mecca. 'This is such a big boxing event, for pure boxers as well. 'There's eyeballs everywhere.' Asked to confirm whether he was talking about Jake Paul, who most recently scored an uninspiring decision win over faded former world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, Tszyu quipped. 'Yeah, and rugby players,' he told CODE Sports. 'No need for the rugby players.' After a decade of waiting, Gallen outpointed Williams on Wednesday night in a controversial decision that may have settled their beef, but didn't live up to any great heights in terms of skill. It was also widely panned for being contested over two-minute rounds, rather than the customary three minutes, despite each of the former Premiership winners banking an estimated $1 million. Tszyu was fast asleep at his Las Vegas Air BnB when the bout went down and didn't watch. 'I couldn't even watch highlights of it,' he said. 'I didn't watch it. 'But, good on em, they had a go and made some money out of it.' Tszyu battled through his last weight cut in April, which came off the back of his wedding to longtime partner Alex – who celebrated her birthday in Las Vegas on Wednesday – and an overdue holiday, Tszyu is right on weight as the fight approaches. He's even been dining on an expensive high-protein dinner that he can't find in Australia. 'We've been getting this mad Chilean sea bass,' he said of the delicacy that can sell for a whopping $75 per kilogram. 'Apparently we don't have it at home, so I'm enjoying it. 'I'm right where I want to be, I'm not killing myself and I'm eating. I'm in a good position. 'Me and my chef, Omar, we've just been chilling at home. We've been playing backgammon, and it's my wife's birthday today, so happy birthday, Alex. Love you, baby!'
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Tim Tszyu's team in huge admission about Sebastian Fundora defeat ahead of rematch
Tim Tszyu has thrown full support behind his entourage for the highly anticipated rematch against Sebastian Fundora, despite the Aussie boxer's team conceding they should not have allowed him to lose the first fight. Tszyu and Fundora will lock horns again in Las Vegas for the WBC super welterweight title this weekend, with the Aussie out to avenge his ugly defeat in last year's first fight. Tszyu suffered a brutal cut to the top of his head after accidentally walking into the elbow of his towering opponent late in the second round. The Aussie's team were unable to stem the flow of blood from the cut and he was barely able to see properly, but Tszyu fought on bravely only to suffer the first loss of his professional career via split-decision. The Aussie's corner came under fire after the brutal defeat and Tszyu's manager Glenn Jennings told AAP that the team accepts they could have pushed harder for the referee stop the fight before the fifth round and had it declared a no-contest. "In context now looking back, it's easy to pull it apart. On the night under the duress and everything going on, it's not so easy," Jennings said. "But what we do know now is Tim didn't want the fight to stop. Coach Igor didn't want the fight to stop because his fighter didn't want the fight to stop. It didn't mean he didn't care. But you've also got a doctor who's saying 'no, he's fine', and you've got a referee who's saying nothing. "And keep in mind that at no stage did the referee tell us that it was an accidental elbow. So if you pull early, you lose. If you pull late, you're in trouble... If we've got it right, we'd be geniuses. If we get it wrong, we're arseholes." Tim Tszyu puts faith in team for Sebastian Fundora rematch Sixteen months on from the brutal defeat, Team Tszyu insist there will be "no excuses" this time after the Aussie pinned his faith once again in trainer Igor Goloubev, strength and conditioning coach Dave Barker and cut man Mark Gambin. And the Tszyu camp is backing the corner to do the job following a brutal review of last year's debacle. "After the whole team got together and had a real frank and honest open session, we agreed that this was the best course forward," Tszyu's manager said. "The one thing you can't buy in corners is loyalty and respect, and these boys have been with us forever so there was never any intention to make any changes." Tszyu says everyone has 'owned up' to their roles and moved on from the Fundora defeat and he's happy to remain loyal to his team. "I'm true to who I stand by with. That's how I am," he said. "I don't really care about the cut man because I'm not intending to use him." Team doctor Bill Anseline is also flying from Sydney to join Tszyu's entourage in Las Vegas. And the Aussie's manager says even his expertise would not have been enough to prevent the 'one-in-a-million misfortune' that transpired against Fundora last year. "A ruptured carotid artery is just unheard of, but you might as well turn on a gas sprinkler system in your head and try and put it out with vaseline and adrenaline," Jennings said. "Doctor Bill said he does that when he removes cancers in the head. He said it takes him 20 minutes to sort that shit out. "It was just unfortunate. It was a one-in-a-million misfortune. It tested all of us. It tested Tim. He fought 10 rounds without clear vision and still only got beaten by a one-point split decision. So it tells you a lot about the kid. The kid is a genuine matador. All interviews were made possible by support from No Limit Boxing. The first fight between @SebastianFundo1 and @Tim_Tszyu was an all-out war between two warriors 😮💨Will their rematch on Saturday night better the first fight?#FundoraTszyu2 | #PacquiaoBarrios | #BoxingLife | #BoxingHype — IFL TV (@IFLTV) July 16, 2025 with AAP
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
'Dumb arse accusations': dreamy Tszyu lashes Fundora
Tim Tszyu has lit the fuse for an explosive world title rematch with "dumb arse" Sebastian Fundora and revealed a burning desire to surpass his legendary father's career accomplishments. Tszyu can join his Hall of Famer dad Kostya, a former unified super-lightweight champion, as a multiple world title winner with victory over Fundora in their WBC super-welterweight stoush in Las Vegas on Saturday (Sunday AEST). Success would elevate the Tszyus to arguably the greatest father-son duo in boxing history. Julio Cesar Chevas Sr and Jr are the only biological father-son pair ever to have both claimed multiple world titles. The 30-year-old Tszyu is well aware of what is at stake at the MGM Grand in boxing's spiritual mecca. "One of my desires is to just overtake my dad," Tszyu told AAP after a training session in Vegas on Tuesday. "Not in a disrespectful way but in a way that, if I'm able to do that, we can create the greatest Tszyu legacy, the greatest fighting family that's ever lived - and that's my goal. "Two-time world champion's got a good ring to it, doesn't it? Timmy two-time sounds alright to me and that's what I intend to do. "But the goal is always to move on. Two times sounds good, but then we move on to the next. "The grind and the continuation and the pursuit of greatness never stops." Tszyu held the WBO strap before relinquishing it in a bloodied loss to Fundora in Sin City in March of 2024. The American sportingly offered the Sydney slayer a rematch and the chance to capture the WBC belt after Fundora won a split decision last time around. Tszyu won the opening two rounds before walking into the so-called Towering Inferno's elbow and opening up a savage gash on the top of his head. Despite fighting for 10 more rounds half blinded by the tsunami of blood, Tszyu was awarded the fight by one of the three judges. But Fundora last week claimed Tszyu was not affected at all. "It doesn't piss me off. If 100 people got the same question, I guarantee you 99 per cent of people will say that it affected me," Tszyu said. "A dumb arse accusation." Tszyu, though, does have a plan in place to hopefully avoid a repeat of the incident that derailed his hopes of unifying the division last time against 197cm tall Fundora. "It's a bit hard," the Australian said. "It's not the elbow. It's when you work out orthodox and southpaw, our legs always clash. "So someone's legs are going to clash and that's what it was. My legs clashed onto him, I fell over from that and I walked into his his elbow. "I'll stay away but it's just about positioning and throwing punches not from certain positions." This AAP article was made possible by support from No Limit Boxing.
Forbes
a day ago
- Sport
- Forbes
Manny Pacquiao Vs. Mario Barrios Full Fight Card Betting Odds
Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao (L) and Mexican-US boxer Mario Barrios face off during the press ... More conference ahead of their July 19 WBC welterweight title fight (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP) (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images) Manny Pacquiao announced his retirement from boxing in 2021. The only boxer to win titles in eight weight divisions ends that retirement this week in Las Vegas when he faces WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios in the main event of a PBC pay-per-view boxing card at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The Pacquiao vs. Barrios boxing card takes place on Saturday, July 19. We look at the betting odds for the full fight card. Manny Pacquiao Vs. Mario Barrios Main Event Betting Odds Mario Barrios (-270) vs. Manny Pacquiao (+230): For Barrios's WBC welterweight championship Manny Pacquiao Vs. Mario Barrios Undercard Betting Odds Sebastian Fundora (+117) vs. Tim Tszyu (-150): For Fundora's WBC and WBO junior middleweight titles Isaac Cruz (-500) vs. Angel Fierro (+350): Junior welterweight Brandon Figueroa (-260) vs. Joet Gonzalez (+200): Featherweight Gary Russell Jr. (-2500) vs. Hugo Castaneda (+910): Lightweight David Picasso (-1250) vs. Kyonosuke Kamed (+700): Junior featherweight Mark Magsayo (-800) vs. Jorge Mata Cuellar (+500): Junior lightweight *Odds via Betonline Manny Pacquiao Vs. Mario Barrios Fight Card Date: Saturday, July 19, 2025 Manny Pacquiao Vs. Mario Barrios Fight Card Time: 5:30 p.m. ET Manny Pacquiao Vs. Mario Barrios Fight Card Location: MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV Manny Pacquiao Vs. Mario Barrios Fight Card How to Watch Or Stream: Amazon Prime Video Manny Pacquiao Vs. Mario Barrios Fight Card Streaming Cost: $79.95 Mario Barrios Vs. Manny Pacquiao Mexican-US boxer Mario Barrios holds a championship belt during the press conference ahead of his ... More July 19 WBC welterweight title fight against Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao at the NOVO at L.A. Live in Los Angeles on June 3, 2025. Manny Pacquiao on June 3 shrugged off concerns about his decision to return to boxing at the age of 46 as he prepares for next month's world welterweight title comeback against Mario Barrios. The charismatic Filipino boxing icon stunned the sports world last month after announcing he would take on World Boxing Council (WBC) champion Barrios on July 19 in Las Vegas, four years after his last fight ended in a disappointing defeat. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP) (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images) The 30-year-old Barrios won the vacant WBC interim welterweight title in September 2023 with a unanimous decision over Yordenis Ugás. He retained the belt in May 2024 with a decision victory over Fabián Maidana. The WBC elevated Barrios to full championship status in June 2024. In his most recent outing, which came in November, Barrios fought Abel Ramos to a split draw to retain the belt. 'If the roles were reversed, Pacquiao wouldn't try to take it easy on me,' Barrios told The Ring. 'He's not going to feel sorry for me in there. It's just the reality of the sport. I am ready to defend my title by any means necessary. 'It's kill or be killed in there. I have to go in there and make sure my hand is raised by any means necessary, whether it's by knockout or by decision. He has age. I have to be ready for whatever he brings.' 'He's such a likable dude,' Barrios said of his opponent. 'It's hard to be like, 'Man, I'm about to square up with him for my title.' But I am going in there with bad intentions. I am trying to get him out of there.' Barrios (29-2-1, 18 KOs) is the No. 3 ranked 147-pounder according to ESPN. Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao attends the press conference ahead of his July 19 WBC welterweight ... More title fight against Mexican-US boxer Mario Barrios at the NOVO at L.A. Live in Los Angeles on June 3, 2025. Manny Pacquiao on June 3 shrugged off concerns about his decision to return to boxing at the age of 46 as he prepares for next month's world welterweight title comeback against Mario Barrios. The charismatic Filipino boxing icon stunned the sports world last month after announcing he would take on World Boxing Council (WBC) champion Barrios on July 19 in Las Vegas, four years after his last fight ended in a disappointing defeat. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP) (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images) ESPN reported on Pacquiao coming out of retirement in early May. The former eight-division boxing champion confirmed his return on Instagram, writing, 'On July 19, I return to the ring to face WBC Welterweight Champion Mario Barrios at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Let's make history! #TeamPacquiao 🇵🇭' The 46-year-old Pacquiao last fought in August 2021 when he dropped a unanimous decision to Yordenis Ugas for the WBA welterweight championship. Not long after that setback, Pacquiao announced his retirement. "Even me, I'm amazed at what I have done," Pacquiao said in a video he posted on social media. "The only boxer to hold world titles in four different decades and became the oldest boxer to win a world welterweight title, an amazing accomplishment." "It is difficult for me to accept that my time as a boxer is over," he added. "Today, I am announcing my retirement. I never thought that this day would come. As I hang up my boxing gloves, I would like to thank the whole world, especially the Filipino people, for supporting Manny Pacquiao." Pacquiao (62-8-2, 39 KOs) was the No. 6 ranked welterweight, according to ESPN, when he retired. He is currently unranked. "Goodbye, boxing. Thank you for changing my life," Pacquiao added. "You gave me the chance to find a way out of poverty. Because of you, I was able to inspire people all over the world. Because of you, I have been given the courage to change more life. "I will never forget what I have done and accomplished in my life. I can't imagine that I have just heard the final bell." Sebastian Fundora Vs. Tim Tszyu 2 US boxer Sebastian Fundora speaks during the press conference ahead of his July 19 WBC super ... More welterweight title fight against Australian boxer Tim Tszyu at the NOVO at L.A. Live in Los Angeles on June 3, 2025. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP) (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images) Sebastian Fundora (22-1-1 with 14 knockouts) opened his boxing career on a 18-0-1 run before he got the opportunity to fight for a title. In April 2022, Fundora faced Erickson Lubin for the vacant WBC interim light middleweight belt. Fundora won that fight by stoppage in the ninth round. Fundora defended his belt in October 2022 with a unanimous decision win over Carlos Ocampo. His title run ended in April 2023 when Brian Mendoza knocked out Fundora in the early moments of the seventh round of their matchup. Fundora returned to the ring nearly a year later to face Tim Tszyu at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas in the main event of a PBC card. Tszyu's WBO junior middleweight title was on the line as well as the vacant WBC strap Fundora won that fight via split decision, scoring an upset split decision (112-116, 116-112, 115-113). Fundora defended his titles in March of this year, knocking out Chordale Booker in the fourth round at Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas. The WBO stripped Fundora of his belt when he elected to face Tszyu in a rematch instead of WBO mandatory challenger Xander Zayas. ESPN has Fundora ranked as the No. 3 junior middleweight behind Terence Crawford and Vergil Ortiz Jr. LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 03: Tim Tszyu speaks prior to his WBC super welterweight rematch ... More fight versus Sebastian Fundora at The NOVO at L.A. Live on June 03, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by) Tim Tszyu (25-2 with 18 KOs) moved to 22-0 in March 2023 when he knocked out Tony Harrison to become the interim WBO junior middleweight champion. He was elevated to full champ when Jermell Charlo faced Canelo Alvarez for the undisputed super middleweight title in September 2023. In his first title defense, Tszyu defeated Mendoza via unanimous decision in Australia in October 2023. Tszyu's next defense was his bloody bout against Fundora. When Tszyu returned to action in October 2024 it was against IBF junior middleweight champ Bakhram Murtazaliev, who knocked Tszyu down four times before Tszyu's corner threw in the towel. That loss had many wondering if Tszyu could get back to a title fight. However, an April 2025 TKO victory over Joseph Spencer put Tszyu back in the title fight conversation. ESPN has Tszyu ranked at No. 6 at 154 pounds. We will have more on the Manny Pacquiao Vs. Mario Barrios fight card as fight night nears.
News.com.au
a day ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
‘Kidding himself': Tim Tszyu's huge Fundora trilogy call as tensions threaten to boil over
Tim Tszyu threatens to put such a beating on Sebastian Fundora in their rematch this weekend that there won't be any demand for a trilogy bout. Meanwhile, simmering tensions between the two camps have threatened to boil over, with Team Tszyu claiming Fundora is 'full of it' and distracted despite his bloody first win over The Soul Taker last year. Ahead of their first fight in March last year – which Fundora won by split decision after Tszyu suffered a gruesome cut on his head – the two camps argued over whether there was a rematch clause in the contract. Tszyu went so far as to label Fundora's promoter, Sampson Lewkowicz 'the weasel'. This time around, Tszyu says there is another rematch clause, but is adamant it won't be needed. 'I want to close it out now, this Saturday night,' Tszyu, who is in the best shape of his life, told Code Sports from his Split-T Gym training base in Las Vegas. 'I want to put on a statement. 'I want an exclamation mark on it. A full stop. 'This, right now, is unfinished business and I want to finish it. I'm going to close it on Saturday.' Normally quiet and polite, Fundora has been outspoken in his criticism of the way Tszyu's team handled the cut in their first fight, and has questioned how bad the Aussie's vision actually was. 'I didn't think that cut was bothering him at all,' Fundora said. '(Tszyu was) maybe removing a couple of drops from his eyes, but it wasn't too much of a thing.' Those comments infuriated Tszyu's team, before Fundora's dad, Freddy, got involved as well, forcing Tszyu's manager, Glen Jennings to respond. 'Sebastian won the fight, but didn't win the fight – the cut won it for him,' Jennings told Code Sports. 'And for the champ, that's hard to take. 'So, he's saying, 'That shits me, I'm going to start rattling their cage'. Tim's already called him a bullshitter, and if they want to, they can fire up, but Tim's coming in red hot.' Fundora has barely ever resorted to trash talk, with Jennings saying his comments show signs of crumbling under pressure. 'When you see someone as affable as Sebastian Fundora come out with that, I think it's stroking his ego a little bit,' he said. 'And that's the fight game, but if he genuinely believes he won that fight against a 100% Tim Tszyu, he's kidding himself. 'I don't think he believes it. 'His father's had a lot to say as well, so it's just whatever you can do to rattle the cage. 'For us, it says that it's not going that well for them. They're distracted, and you wonder if there's doubt coming into their system. 'If you're as good as you believe, you don't have to say anything. They can throw bombs, it won't bother us in the slightest.' Tszyu admits that his team got elements of the first fight wrong. His team was unable to stop the bleeding, and also missed the chance to have the fight stopped before the end of the fourth round, meaning the bout would have ended in a no contest, allowing Tszyu retain his WBO world title. Tszyu will keep the same personnel this weekend, but had a few hard conversations with his inner sanctum too. 'Look, the team did make mistakes, and it's just one of those things,' he said. 'It's there for everyone to see. 'Everyone's owned up to it and moved on. I don't dwell on the past. 'I look towards making the most of the present moments – the moments right now – and I'm living it.' Cut man Mark Gambin told Code Sports this week that he has packed double what he needs on fight night as the corner looks for revenge. Meanwhile, Jennings confirms there's a rematch clause for a trilogy bout if Tszyu wins, but agrees with his fighter that it won't be needed. 'No champ's going into a fight without a rematch clause, but whether it comes to fruition is another matter,' he said. 'It comes down to the outcome of the fight. 'If it's compelling and the crowd wants it, there will be another one. 'But if it's a whitewash and a demolition, they often don't happen. 'Tim will finish this on Saturday night and then there's no discussion.'
