Sebastian Fundora Acknowledges Tim Tszyu’s “Incredible Bravery” in the Ring

There are no exceptions. As it happens in other sports, in boxing as well, there is only one winner. The Sebastian Fundora–Tim Tszyu headline fight of the inaugural PBC pay-per-view show on Amazon Prime proved no different. Flipping over all the predictions and expectations, the 6-foot and 6-inch tall American challenger emerged as the new unified light middleweight champion. But more than the outcome, the way the bout eventually came about has become a talking point.

It is the first professional loss for Tim Tszyu. His immense fortitude, over a neck-and-neck fight that saw blood covering his face, has won him over a legion of new fans. However, the Australian boxer has been winning accolades for his conduct outside the ring as well. Not only did he accept the result with grace and dignity, but, taking a step ahead, he acknowledged his opponent’s feat. Later, on social media as well, he appreciated Sebastian Fundora, who joined the fight on such short notice. ‘The Towering Inferno’ didn’t waste time and reciprocated in kind.

Tim Tszyu and Sebastian Fundora: Warrior Ethos

Congratulating Fundora, Tim Tszyu stressed that it was a well-deserved win. “Congratulations to @SebastianFundo1. Well earned victory,” said ‘The Soul Taker’. Then he lauded his American counterpart for his participation without any hesitation. His shining example will inspire a new generation of boxers, stated Tszyu. Finally, he added that it was just a prelude. He will be back in the ring, staking a claim on all the belts.

He said, “Never backed out of any challenge and trying to inspire the next generation to fight through all adversities that are presented. I’ll be back. For ALL the belts. The goal remains the same. Warrior sh*t only.”

It was ‘The Towering Inferno’s turn. “Huge respect for your incredible bravery in the ring,” said the new unified light middleweight champion. He wished Tim Tszyu all the best for his future endeavors. Fundora then praised the former champion for his stellar performance and fighting spirit. “A true class act and a formidable warrior. Wishing you all the best in the journey ahead. The future is bright for you, champ,” he said.

As most fans are aware, the fight, initially scheduled between Tim Tszyu and Keith Thurman, suffered a last-minute change as the latter backed out on account of sparring injuries. Sebastian Fundora, who suffered a knockout defeat to Brian Mendoza last year, joined as a substitute.

Ring Carnage

Thus, Tim Tszyu not only had to adjust himself to fighting a southpaw but also dealt with a boxer who stood nearly seven feet and had a reach of over 200 centimeters. As both fans and experts espoused, things might have been different had he not received the second-round cut on his forehead after he ran into Fundora’s elbow. Despite his cutman’s best efforts, the blood flow dripped over his eyes. As a result, he had to keep wiping his face with the gloves.

But despite the constant irritant, ‘The Soul Taker’, in his usual style, forced Fundora to maintain a safe distance as he landed some heavy right hands that bloodied the American boxer’s nose as well. However, in the end, the latter’s discipline amidst the fire paid off. Two of the judges scored in his favor, 116-112, and 115-113, with the third rating Tszyu as the better boxer with a 112-116 scorecard.

Read More: “Won’t Do This for a Million Dollars”: Tim Tszyu and Sebastian Fundora’s “Blood Bath” Sparks Wild Reactions With Fans

Do you think the fight should have been stopped after Tim Tszyu injured his forehead?

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