Tim Tszyu, who was originally set to face Serhii Bohachuk for the vacant WBC 154 title, will now face Sebastian Fundora in the new main event on March 30. Tszyu will be defending his WBO title for the third time. Fundora is the new opponent for Tim, as Keith Thurman withdrew due to a biceps injury he suffered during training. Australia’s rising star, Tszyu, was expected to raise his profile in the USA with a notable opponent like Thurman.
The Australian was first preparing for Thurman
Tszyu’s sudden change of opponents from Keith Thurman to Sebastian Fundora presents a significant adjustment for him. “The Soul Taker” was originally preparing for Thurman, who is a traditional boxer at 147 pounds known for his punching and movement. The Australian boxer has to now face Fundora, who stands 6 feet, 5 inches tall and is known for applying consistent pressure in the ring.
Sebastian is coming off a KO loss
Fundora is coming off a knockout loss to Brian Mendoza in April 2023. This was not only the biggest upset of the year but also the first professional loss for “The Towering Inferno.” Despite this setback, Fundora was preparing for a WBC vacant title fight against fellow orthodox pressure fighter Serhii Bohachuk, like Tszyu. This preparation may provide him with an advantage in adapting Tszyu’s style.
The event will take place in Las Vegas
Fundora’s most recent win was in October 2022, when he defeated Carlos Ocampo via unanimous decision. In contrast, Tszyu scored a first-round knockout win over Ocampo in June. His wins over Tony Harrison and Brian Mendoza further highlight his skills in the ring. The Tszyu vs. Thurman fight was originally scheduled to take place without a title shot at 155 pounds. This bout was expected to mark Thurman’s return to the ring after 25 months. Thurman suffered the only defeat of his career against veteran Manny Pacquiao in July 2019. Tim is set to take center stage at the pay-per-view event that is scheduled to take place on March 30 in Las Vegas.
