LAS VEGAS – Sebastian Fundora has every intention of earning a repeat win over Tim Tszyu.
What he plans to avoid is the means by which he claimed a victory in their first encounter.
Australia’s Tszyu suffered a horrific cut along his forehead that left him a gory mess for much of their WBC/WBO unified junior middleweight title fight last March 31 at T-Mobile Arena here in Las Vegas. Fundora fought through a broken and bloodied nose to prevail via split decision and end Tszyu’s title reign, as well as his days as an unbeaten fighter.
The two are now set to run it back as part of a July 19 PBC on Prime Video Pay-Per-View event at nearby MGM Grand Garden Arena. Their chief support to the Mario Barrios Jnr-Manny Pacquiao WBC welterweight title fight is tabbed as another potential bloodbath, given their styles.
Fundora would settle for a second win in as many tries.
“I don’t want that – not on my side,” Fundora joked to BoxingScene and other reporters during a media scrum at Mandalay Bay’s House of Blues to formally announce the July 19 card. “I want to be Fighter of the Year, not Fight of the Year.”
Fundora, 22-1-1 (14 KOs), won the WBO and WBC titles in his win over Tszyu, 25-2 (18 KOs), last March. A 27-year-old southpaw, Fundora has since vacated the WBO belt to move forward with this rematch in lieu of an ordered defense against Xander Zayas, which had already been destined for a purse bid hearing.
The bout will be the second of the year for the 6ft 5½ins Fundora. He ended a 51-week ring absence with a one-sided fourth-round knockout of Chordale Booker in their March 22 PBC on Prime Video headliner from Michelob ULTRA Arena.
Fundora was limited to just one fight in 2024. Part of the downtime was dedicated to restoring his body to full health after sustaining injuries in the first fight with Tsyzu. Most of it, however, was due to having spent most of the second half waiting on confirmation for a long-discussed clash with former unified welterweight titlist Errol Spence Jnr.
Fundora instead spent the rest of the year supporting the Women’s Fighter of the Year campaign enjoyed by Gabriela Fundora, his younger sister and reigning undisputed flyweight champion.
Sebastian Fundora entered 2025 determined to remain more active and solidify his place as the best 154lbs fighter on the planet. That would mean at least making a third fight this year, which explains his aim for a less painful second showdown with Tszyu.
“I don’t see it going the distance,” insisted Fundora. “I’ve been training really hard to improve. Last year was a good year; this year will be even better.
“We got this one in [July], then hopefully another one by the end of the year, to give us three. Maybe even another champion.”
Gabriela Fundora became the 2024 Women’s Fighter of the Year with four wins on the year, capped by her knockout of Gabriela Alaniz to fully unify all the flyweight titles.
Sebastian Fundora hasn’t given up on his own goal to become undisputed champion at junior middleweight. However, he is already one belt lighter than when the year began as he enters a more lucrative fight than would have been the case if he faced the unbeaten Zayas.
The quest to collect all the belts will not fade. That said, Fundora is also blessed with plenty of name talent in the 154lbs division. There is no shortage of a viable next option – assuming he prevails in July – regardless of whether that opponent has a belt in tow.
“I’d like to be undisputed. My sister is undisputed, and I’d like to be that as well,” Fundora said. “Every fighter wants to be the best, and that’s how you stamp that.
“But if it doesn’t happen, it doesn’t happen. I can still prove myself with fights like this.”
Jake Donovan is an award-winning journalist who served as a senior writer for BoxingScene from 2007-2024, and news editor for the final nine years of his first tour. He was also the lead writer for The Ring before his decision to return home. Follow Jake on and .