The fact that TIM Tszyu’s managers did not press Sebastian Fundora’s opponent, referee Harvey Dock, or a ringside physician to end the bout before the conclusion of the fourth round drew criticism.
The 12 round, 154-pound title battle that Tszyu lost by split decision at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on March 30 was drastically altered by the deep, repulsive cut on top of his head. Just before the second round ended, Tszyu took a right punch and moved forward, inadvertently grazing Fundora’s elbow with his head. This resulted in the opening of the wound.
Tszyu lifted his head, and blood gushed from that cut. By fighting through that kind of cut, the former WBO junior middleweight champion realized right away that he would confront challenges he had never experienced in a ring.
But the 29-year-old Tszyu never asked anyone on his squad, including his trainer Igor Goloubev, to stop Dock from doing anything so that their fight might be declared a no-contest. If it had occurred, Tszyu wouldn’t have just one loss on his professional record, he would still be the owner of the WBO title he dropped against Fundora, and most likely a rematch would have been set.
Rather, the unflappable Tszyu launched a massacre. The 6-foot-6 Fundora was able to regain the battle when Tszyu delivered so many flush right punches in the opening two rounds that it looked like he would lose by knockout. At times, he had trouble seeing clearly because blood was running down his forehead and into his eyes.
Despite the fact that it stopped the momentum he had generated with three strong wins in 2023 over experienced Mexican Carlos Ocampo, former WBC champion Tony Harrison, and Brian Mendoza—who had severely knocked out Fundora in Fundora’s previous appearance—Tszyu had no regrets about sticking with the fight.
“It was, like, if you’re going to lose, you gotta lose that way,” Tszyu recently stated in a video news conference with Boxing News. “I will not attempt to endure. My goal was to triumph. And trying to demolish my opponent was the only way I could win. Furthermore, I’m not into just saying, “Pull out,” “I guess,” “Forfeit,” etc. You know, it’s not in my blood. That’s the mindset I have: I’d rather die in that ring.
The IBF gave Murtazaliev the go-ahead to face Tszyu, the fourth-ranked fighter in their 154-pound rankings, after Orlando native Erickson Lubin (26-2, 18 KOs), rated third, declined the championship due to a hand injury.
