They call him “Towering Inferno”.
Height: 197cm.
Reach: 203cm
Oh yeah, this guy is also a clumsy, all-action southpaw.
So when it comes to Sebastian Fundora, a.k.a. the guy who rushed in to face Tim Tzu on just 12 days' notice, here's what he knows, or thinks he knows, about the mathematics of boxing. need to forget everything.
Simply put, it doesn't work in this case.
That's why Fandora was an opponent Team Tzu had been warned to avoid for years.
Boxing: Tszyu v Fundora + Zerafa v Lara Live from Las Vegas | Wednesday, March 31, 11am AEDT | Main Event only, order on Kayo Sports. No Kayo subscription required.
In fact, many boxing commentators in the United States today believe that Tszyu's throwdown against Fundora in his blockbuster debut in Las Vegas suddenly left him with a much larger task in every sense of the word. It is claimed that it has become.
Just hours after American superstar Keith Thurman officially withdrew from the highly touted Tszyu headliner due to injury, the undefeated Sydneysider is now back on T-Mobile on Sunday March 31st. It is said that he will fight for not one, but two super welterweight titles in the arena.
Aside from defending his WBO title, which was not originally against Thurman, Tszyu also plans to challenge for the WBC strap, which was recently stripped from Jermell Charlo.
But while the enemies and rewards are suddenly much greater than they were 24 hours ago, so are the risks.
This change comes less than two weeks after what is being called Tsiusa's takeover, considering the 26-year-old Fundora was scheduled to fight Serhiy Bokhachuk for the WBC gold medal on the same card. There are already enough preparations.
Like Tszyu, Bohachuk is a classic pressure fighter.
So in terms of changes, Inferno does very little.
But Soultaker?
Suddenly, he is tasked with fighting a man who looks nothing like Thurman.
Indeed, Towering Inferno came away victorious in his last start with a brutal knockout loss to Brian Mendoza.
A rival whom Tszyu defeated in his own last match.
In their previous fight, Tszyu iced Mexico's Carlos Ocampo within one round, and Fundora pitched a complete game in their October 2022 encounter.
That definitely means something.
Mendoza's brutal finish leaves everyone wondering what kind of scars Fundora will suffer, psychological or otherwise.
But why does boxing math fail on this problem?
First, Fundora won every round against Mendoza, but…well, he didn't win.
Indeed, going into the seventh round of their WBC interim title showdown, the American remained an impossibly awkward rival with many trying to chase Charlo, Goldstrap, superstardom and all that. .
Importantly, the challenger also presents Tszyu with an entirely different problem to solve.
After weeks of preparation for Thurman, a skilled veteran, a small-framed and heavier orthodox puncher, a fighter who likes boxing and movement, he now hits hard and applies relentless pressure. I ended up facing off against a mean and oversized left arm.
Fundora says little outside the ring. He seems friendly.
Boxing: Tszyu v Fundora + Zerafa v Lara Live from Las Vegas | Wednesday, March 31, 11am AEDT | Main Event only, order on Kayo Sports. No Kayo subscription required.
Thurman withdraws from match with Tzui | 00:46
But what about inside the rope?
Different story.
Fundora's switch adds a lot of intrigue to this bout, given his unique physique and willingness to take on any kind of action fight — many believe it will be the California native's first two years out of the ring as well. I'm sure it will be a much tougher test than Thurman's return.
Before Mendoza's shocking loss, Fundora personally stopped former title challenger Eriksson Rubin and also defeated former welterweight title challenger Ocampo by unanimous decision.
If Inferno was so dominant during his rise in the rankings, some in the boxing world suggested he might not be a candidate for Soultaker.
But as you've probably guessed by now, Tszyu is good at rolling the dice.
That is being proven once again in Las Vegas.
“I'm used to the word 'withdrawal',” he tweeted shortly after the news broke. “Thurman, Charlo, Zerafa, Rubin…and the show goes on as always…”
Importantly, the Australian international spent the first half of camp sparring with southpaws, including his younger brother Nikita, given that he was initially likely to face Rubin in Las Vegas. .
However, negotiations for that match broke down in late January.
Reports from the US also indicate that Tszyu's headliner will be aiming for the WBC title, while Bohachuk will fight for the interim strap as originally planned, with Mendoza being introduced in the 11th hour. has also been suggested.
The winner of that match will face the crowned champion in the main event.
However, there is talk that if Tszyu defends his WBO strap, he will face American megastar Terrence Crawford in his next fight.
Crawford has already made no secret of his desire to step up and chase more belts, and if that's the case, the WBO welterweight title would be a must for Tse.
But now standing in his way is Fundora, who is definitely a fighter and comes from a family of fighters in every sense of the word.
For example, his sister Gabriella is the undefeated IBF flyweight champion and is admirably dubbed “Sweet Poison,” while his father Freddie is also a respected coach and is always in his corner.
In fact, Freddie Fandora has been training Sebastian, Gabriella, and their four other siblings since childhood at his family's boxing gym in Coachella, California.
“My father is a mentor and leader for me and my sister Gabriella,” Fundora said recently.
“We're going to follow his lead and that's what this sport needs. It's not just in the ring, but outside the ring as well because he's our father.”
Leading up to his showdown with Mendoza, it was suggested that a convincing victory could put Fundora in a position to challenge Charlo for the undisputed divisional champion.
One US report said, “A fight with Tim Tzu is one that many in the sports world would like to see in the future.”
Incredibly, and in a way no one expected, that showdown has now arrived.
