Sebastian Fundora will take on Tim Tszyu in a rematch of their 2024 war on July 19, in the co-main event of Filipino icon Manny Pacquiao’s return.
Pacquiao, 46, was recently enshrined in the Hall of Fame. In his first fight since a 2021 unanimous decision loss to Yordenis Ugas, the Filipino will take on WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Despite the buzz and trepidation around a living legend making his return to the ring, Fundora believes his bout with Australian Tszyu is “the bigger fight.”
Fundora, 22-1-1 (14 KOs), will defend his WBC junior middleweight title against Tszyu. He opted to give Tszyu, now 25-2 (18 KOs), a rematch rather than face Xander Zayas for the WBO belt.
The Australian took his first loss as a pro against Fundora, making it to the scorecards despite a horrific cut on his scalp from early on in the fight after he collided with the point of Fundora’s elbow.
There is plenty of interest in the rematch, especially given Tszyu’s success in the opening rounds of the first fight prior to being cut. Some contend the first fight would have ended differently but for the resulting bloodbath that Tszyu had to battle through.
Fundora believes the rematch with Tszyu is a bigger fight than Barrios-Pacquiao, a match that has drawn plenty of criticism given Pacquiao is older, hasn’t fought for four years, and lost his last contest.
“Manny Pacquiao’s Manny Pacquiao,” Fundora told BoxingScene. “But I’m here to focus on my fight. I think my fight’s a big fight. I think my fight’s the bigger fight on the card, but it’s nice to see Pacquiao back in the ring.”
Asked if he felt he was being overshadowed, Fundora said: “Of course not. What he does doesn’t do nothing for me.”
Asked why he was facing Tszyu again rather than Zayas, Fundora explained: “I don’t sit at the table, with the promoters; the big shots; all these guys. I don’t make the decisions. They tell me, ‘Hey, you’re gonna face this guy next’ ,and I just tell them, ‘Okay.’”
Fundora, 27, also paid tribute to his long-time manager, Sampson Lewkowicz, who has been behind the success of Fundora and his world champion sister Gabriela. Their relationship extends beyond boxing; Lewkowicz even spent time with Fundora’s dogs for him when Fundora decided to add canines to the family.
“Me and my mother drove all the way to New York, we went to his [Sampson’s] house, got the dogs and spent some time with him,” said Fundora. "Sampson’s a great person. A great human being."
Does the fighter expect to see his career out with Lewkowicz?
“I think so,” he said.
