- Tim Tszyu has faced off with rival Sebastian Fundora
- He will joust for the WBC belt on July 19 in Las Vegas
Tim Tszyu will earn his shot at redemption in a world title rematch with Sebastian Fundora on a blockbuster card in Las Vegas featuring some of boxing’s biggest names including the legendary Manny Pacquiao.
Tszyu will joust for the WBC super-welterweight belt on July 19, 16 months after relinquishing his world title strap to Fundora in an epic and bloody bout in Vegas.
‘This one’s the most important of my career. It gives you this burning fire. A rematch gives you the chance to rewrite your mistakes,’ Tszyu said after losing a split decision last time after fighting mostly blinded after copping a Fundora elbow to the head late in the second round.
‘From round three to maybe round 10, I wasn’t in the right mindset. I lost my head a bit. But I adapted. Started figuring him out – just a bit too late. Now, I know what needs to be done.
‘I’ve never made excuses and I won’t start now. If you lose, you lose. If you win, you win. My plan? Hit him in the face as hard as I can.’
Asked about the stylistic match-up against the so-called Towering Inferno, Tszyu didn’t shy away from what’s to come.
Tim Tszyu will earn his shot at redemption in a world title rematch with Sebastian Fundora on a blockbuster card in Las Vegas
The Aussie will joust for the WBC super-welterweight belt on July 19
‘We both like to press. We bring the action. Fighting Fundora can’t be technical. You’ve got to make it a war – and that’s what this will be. A war.’
Tszyu said he was honoured to feature on a stacked card at the MGM Grand Garden Arena headlined by the return of the Hall of Famer Manny Pacquiao.
The Filipino is seeking to win another world title at age 46 against rising Mexican-American star Mario Barrios.
‘I was 15 when I saw Pacquiao vs Cotto at MGM. Manny gave me a fist bump and it made my day. Now I’m fighting on the same card. That’s wild,’ the Sydney slayer said.
‘This is going to be the fight card of the year. Pitbull Cruz to start it, then me and Fundora – we don’t throw 10 punches a round. We throw down.’
Fundora believes he and Tszyu will really put on a show in Las Vegas.
‘I think this fight, no doubt, will steal the show, no matter what,’ he said
‘The first fight was a fight of the year. I’m going to say it, that was Fight of the Decade.
The pair fought 16 months ago in a bloody battle that say Tszyu relinquish his title
‘You never see that much blood in boxing. And that’s what people want to see besides a knockout.
‘That’s entertaining.
‘That’s boxing.’
