Tim Tszyu catapulted back into world title rematch of bloody 2024 war with Sebastian Fundora

Tim Tszyu has been sensationally catapulted back into a blockbuster world title rematch with towering American Sebastian Fundora, with a replay of their 2024 bloodbath likely to take place in Las Vegas during the US summer.

As first revealed by Fox Sports Australia immediately after his most recent win over US prospect Joey Spencer, Tszyu is set to return to the world’s fight capital for a shot at redemption against the man who stole his crown in a bloody split decision war last March.

Canelo vs Scull | SUN 4 MAY 9AM AEST | Canelo will look to regain the undisputed super-middleweight crown against current IBF title holder Scull. | Order now on DAZN

While Australian promoters No Limit are yet to confirm, it’s understood contracts have been signed between both Tszyu and the towering 27-year-oldd US southpaw who famously upset him for both the WBO and WBC titles.

Multiple US reports overnight said the fight would likely happen in July or August, with Fundora set to vacate his WBO title — scrapping a planned bout with Puerto Rican prospect Xander Zayas — and put his WBC strap on the line against Tszyu.

Speaking immediately after ‘The Soul Taker’ beat Spencer via brutal stoppage in Tszycastle earlier this month, No Limit CEO George Rose confirmed to Fox Sports Australia that talks were already underway for a Las Vegas showdown with Fundora sometime during the US summer.

Rose added that it was through the Towering Inferno’s straps that Tszyu could then earn his way back into the US blockbusters he has always craved — including, most notably, Jermell Charlo.

Tszyu himself also revealed after the Spencer win that Fundora was the man he most wanted to fight next, despite suggestions he was already locked in for a showdown with American great Keith Thurman on the Gold Coast in July.

Tszyu also revealed in his post-fight press conference that the weight cut had been one of the toughest of his career, and suggested a move to middleweight could take place within the year.

As a result, a win over Fundora could mean Tszyu then has just one massive super welterweight defence – potentially against Charlo, or even Thurman – before then moving up into the middleweight division.

Regardless, the Fundora announcement represents a huge shot at redemption for the 30-year-old Sydneysider, who was thought to be angling for an Australian headliner against American great Thurman on the glitter strip in July.

Instead, ‘The Soul Taker’ will look to become a two-time world champion in the US.

Incredibly, the announcement comes only days after WBO officials announced a proposed bout between Fundora and No.1 contender, the undefeated Zayas, would be going to purse bid within days.

Making the announcement via social media, WBO President Gustavo Olivieri suggested a purse bid would occur next week, and be live-streamed, with Fundora to get 75 per cent of any winning bid, while Zayas would receive the remaining quarter.

Instead, Team Tszyu appear to have swept in and jagged a title shot for their man.

Speaking on Australia’s The Punch Podcast only recently, Fundora hinted that a rematch with Tszyu was in the works, while also disputing suggestions his team had initially opted out of an agreed rematch clause.

Garcia vs Romero | SAT 3 MAY 8AM AEST | Ryan Garcia makes his highly anticipated return to the ring to face Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero for the vacant WBA World Welterweight title in a stacked fight card in Times Square, New York. | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.

“Of course, of course,” Fundora said when asked about the possibility of a rematch.

“That’s a great fight.

“There’s a bunch of fights in this division that we are in the position to get, it’s just if the other side wants to take it as well.

“(But) I’m pretty sure the Australians would love it. I think it’s a great fight.”

Immediately following Fundora’s upset win over Tszyu, the question of a rematch clause was raised, however the champ stressed there was nothing, contractually, that demanded it.

“People talk too much and people talk a lot when they don’t know,” he said of suggestions a potential rematch clause had been broken.

“There was nothing in the contract for me.

“I never seen anything like that.

“You gotta ask the source yourself, either Tim or me, and we know what was going on.

“I would like that fight, though. I definitely like that fight.”

For Tszyu, the Fundora rematch represents his shot at re-entering the top echelon of world boxing following consecutive title losses to both Fundora and then IBF champ Bakhram Murtazaliev last October.

Earlier this month, the Sydneysider initially bounced back with a brutal stoppage win over hyped American prospect Joey Spencer, whose corner threw the towel after only four rounds.

Immediately afterwards, Tszyu was touted for a showdown against future Hall of Famer Thurman, who only weeks earlier ended his own three-year hiatus from the ring with a big stoppage win over Tszyu’s No Limit stablemate, Brock Jarvis.

However, it now appears Team Tszyu have sidestepped Thurman and will go straight into a rematch with Fundora — the 6’6’’ Californian who handed Australia’s boxing superstar the first loss of his professional career.

During that fight inside T-Mobile Arena, Tszyu famously fought for some 30 minutes with blood pouring down his face, and effectively blinded, after suffering a severe cut to his head late in the second round, via an accidental Fundora elbow.

Despite the significant impediment, Tszyu still only lost via the narrowest of margins, a split decision draw.

While there was initially talk of a rematch between the pair, Fundora spent almost a year out of the ring before eventually returning to defend both the WBO and WBC straps against Chordale Booker in March.

After earning his convincing stoppage win over Spencer in Newcastle, Tszyu confirmed immediately afterwards that negotiations for a championship rematch with Fundora were already underway.

The Australian added that while he welcomed the chance to face a great like Thurman, “I’m also looking at world titles, the big boys, that’s where I want to be at.”

When asked which name he would like most, Tszyu replied “Fundora” – but soon after rattled off a host of others who were “all number ones” on his list, including Jermell Charlo, Vergil Ortiz and Errol Spence Jnr.

Elsewhere after the Spencer win, Rose also spoke about Tszyu’s revelation that he would likely move up to middleweight within the year, suggesting it was still too early to put a timeframe on a division change.

“I think we’ll know a lot more after his next weight cut,” Rose said.

“Because leading into Sunday’s fight, Tim had been out of the ring for a while.

“It was probably the longest break of his career.

“So this cut was always going to be a tough one.

“But I think the next one will decide it.

“He will know for how long he keeps doing it at super welterweight.”