‘He’s pissed’: Inside the incredible deal that has Tszyu preparing to fight alongside megastar

Australia’s Tim Tszyu is readying to share his Las Vegas blockbuster with boxing megastar Manny Pacquaio following a crazy few days that seemingly now has everyone salivating but a “pissed” Keith Thurman.

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After a chaotic fortnight for Team Tszyu and promoters No Limit, Fox Sports Australia can reveal the incredible negotiations that have seen Tszyu switch from facing Thurman on the Gold Coast this July to instead throw down in a hyped rematch against WBC world champion Sebastian Fundora.

While Tszyu’s deal is already done, there is also still some conjecture about who will headline the proposed card in the world’s fight capital – with one option said to be a welterweight title bout between Pacquiao and WBC champ Mario Barrios.

However, there is also a possibility the event could be topped by Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis or, in a best case scenario, include all of the above in what would be one the undeniable blue riband fight cards of 2025.

It is understood the final make-up for the event will be revealed within the fortnight.

And while no official date has yet been confirmed, the key one being discussed by promoters, fighters and broadcasters is Sunday, July 20 (Australian time).

However, depending on how things play out with the proposed main event, the fight could take place as late as August.

Speaking with Fox Sports Australia on Wednesday, No Limit CEO George Rose remained coy on exactly who was set to top the card featuring Tszyu-Fundora II, but suggested by the time everything is announced “it’s going to be amazing”.

“This card Tim Tszyu is on,” Rose said, “it’s one you won’t want to miss”.

It is understood US promoters PBC will make an announcement in the next fortnight, with Tszyu almost certain to fly over to the States with one or more of the Rose boys for what will be a huge press conference reveal.

Asked about when he expects everything to be finalised, Rose cackled: “Well, we’ve got all our nuts and bolts screwed in and ready to go … and we’re ready for Tim Tszyu to put on a f***ing show”.

Asked if the only person upset by all this may be Thurman, Rose suggested the future Hall of Famer, while likely unhappy, was now among several options to face Tszyu should he win.

Back in March last year, Tszyu lost a bloody split decision draw against Fundora after being cut by an elbow in just the second round.

The Soul Taker then controversially fought on for some 30 minutes effectively blinded by blood, before losing his unification tilt by the narrowest of margins.

Adding to the drama, Tszyu took the bout on only a dozen day’s notice after his initial rival, Thurman, withdrew due to a biceps injury suffered in one of his final sparring sessions.

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Yet the rematch has now arrived following what has been five weeks of almost daily conversations between Tszyu’s camp, Team Fundora and heavyweight US promotional outfit PBC.

Intriguingly, the announcement for Tszyu-Fundora II emerged from out of the US only hours after the WBO suggested a showdown between Fundora and No.1 contender Xander Zayas would go to purse bid in coming days.

However, the towering US southpaw and his management team have instead decided to vacate that belt, allowing Zayas and Jorge Garcia Perez to scrap for the vacant world title.

The winner of that fight would be one option for Tszyu in victory should he wish to unify, however the more likely scenario is another US blockbuster against either Thurman or Jermell Charlo before moving to middleweight.

Elsewhere, Rose also confirmed that, despite a raft of accusations following the first fight with Fundora, Team Tszyu always did have the opportunity to enact a rematch clause – but opted against it.

Instead, the Australian superstar accepted a deal to face IBF champ Bakhram Murtazaliev, which saw him suffer a shock stoppage loss.

“Yes, there was always a rematch clause,” Rose said.

“But Sebastian Fundora, he had to recover.

“And when he was going through that process — when Tim was ready to go again, and Fundora wasn’t – we were offered a shot at the IBF world title.

“And we had to take it.

“So while it’s been something of a scenic route for both fighters back to where we are, we now get to redo what was one of last year’s most memorable fights.

“And there will be no more excuses regarding who the real champion is.”

Only two days after Tszyu demolished hyped US prospect Spencer – whose team threw the towel in the fourth round – talks ramped up with Fundora’s agent Sampson Lewkowicz, who Tszyu famously branded ‘The Weasal’ during the build to their first encounter.

In fact, the fighter and famed US agent were even engaged in a heated verbal during the fight week press conference, where Tszyu shouted at the manager “you disrespected me”.

Asked afterwards by Fox Sports Australia for more detail, Tszyu replied: “I just said ‘you disrespected me’.

“I told him ‘you said when we beat you we’ll come down to Australia’.

“I told him that ain’t happening.

“And I started calling him the weasel because he is a weasel.”

So as for his response?

“He was trying to play it cool,” Tszyu grinned. “He’s just a typical promoter, old school promoter with the fat cold chains …”

While Lewkowicz was furious following the exchange, and immediately after the fight suggested his new champion would not honour the rematch clause, Rose insisted emotions between the two camps have since thawed.

“And I like Sampson,” he stressed.

“He’s a good guy with a great stable of fighters.

“And for us, the fight will be in the ring.

“This is a fight we think Tim should’ve won the first time around and we just want him to get his bragging rights.

“They got them first up, and they deserved it.

“So no bad blood there.

“Sampson is a fantastic person and we enjoy working with him.”

So never any concern that Team Fundora could potentially dig their heels in and refuse a rematch following the fight week dramas of the first showdown?

“In the sport, you’re navigating personalities 24/7,” Rose shrugged.

“Everyone believes they do things the best way, just as everyone believes it’s their fighter who is the best in the business.

“But you have to find mutual ground and, yeah, while things did get spicy with Sampson in the first fight, there’s definitely no lingering bad blood there from our side.

“In the heat of battle, things are said.

“I know I’ve said a lot of crazy s***.

“But all you can do is prove things with your actions moving forward.

“And I’m now looking to create another memorable fight where Tim Tszyu wins a world title and shows everyone he is the best fighter in the division.”

It is understood negotiations between the two camps, and PBC, have been going almost every day — and for the Rose boys, at all hours — since Fundora beat Chordale Booker last month, his first defence after the Tszyu bloodbath.

Those negotiations then ramped up after the Spencer win, and were signed off, Rose says, only “in recent days”.

So as for what Thurman makes of all this?

“Well, I haven’t spoken to him yet,” Rose said Wednesday after an open media workout for his company’s May 14 Pay-Per-View involving Harry Garside and Sam Goodman, the latter of whom is hoping to secure a late placement on the Tszyu-Fundora undercard with a win against Cesar Vaca.

The promoter added however that his brother Matt had been “on the phone all morning”, and that likely involved a conversation with the man who had thought himself locked in to face Tszyu Down Under in July.

So would he be pissed?

“Yeah, he’d be pissed at missing that opportunity,” Rose conceded of Thurman.

“Because I know he’s backing himself to win that fight.

“But there is also an opportunity on the back end of it all now for him, which is that he could fight Tim Tszyu for the WBC world title.

“If everything goes to plan, that’s how it could end up for him.

“And I know Keith Thurman won’t be complaining about that at all.”

Rose also added that, given how easily Tszyu demolished Spencer, there was effectively no need to prove himself again before a bout that even Lewkowicz says offers more money than other fights.

“Initially, Keith Thurman was going to be part of Tim’s bounce back,” Rose said.

“Beat Joey Spencer, beat Thurman then go after the title.

“But after what Tim did to Joey – the way he absolutely annihilated him – it just solidified our thoughts that he really is that guy in this super welterweight division.

“Of course, Fundora looked great in his fight, too.

“So now he wants to prove himself the champion and Tim wants that world title back.

“He’s always said he wants the world title rematch because he didn’t get the opportunity, first time around, to show what he really could’ve done.

“And I agree.

“Now, he gets that chance.”