Sebastian Fundora, the WBC super welterweight champion and the fighter who defeated Tim Tszyu, is set to defend his title against Keith Thurman in October, as reported by ESPN. Tszyu had ambitions of facing Thurman later this year after believing he could reclaim his title against Fundora. However, after failing to continue at the end of the seventh round in their match, Tszyu’s plans were dashed, leading Fundora to retain the championship.
In recent weeks, Tszyu has been active on social media yet has not confirmed when he will return to the ring or his next opponent. Following the loss, opinions have surfaced encouraging Tszyu to look for less challenging bouts against local fighters before advancing back into elite competition. The Australian boxer expressed his regret to fans for his performance, admitting he “crashed and burned” but remains committed to making a comeback.
Critics have questioned Tszyu’s recent posts, particularly one depicting him walking to the ring against Fundora, suggesting it’s more a reminder of his defeat than a celebration of his journey. Alongside this, there have been calls for him to consider hiring a new trainer, ideally based in the U.S. Nevertheless, Tszyu appears to be in good spirits, recently sharing a video of himself running a half marathon in the rain.
Tszyu’s brother, Nikita, has defended him against detractors in media interviews, stating that those urging him to retire are misinformed. The boxing landscape, particularly through pay-per-view channels, can make it challenging for fighters to continuously engage their fanbase, especially after a loss.
While Tszyu’s future in the sport hangs in the balance, Fundora is set to face Thurman for his title in Las Vegas, as part of a PBC on Prime PPV headline event anticipated for late October. Thurman, who has faced injury setbacks, was originally scheduled to fight Tszyu but will now take on Fundora after the latter’s victory over the Australian.
At 36 years old, Thurman holds a record of 31-1 with 23 knockouts and has fought only twice since his decision loss to Manny Pacquiao in 2019. His latest fight took place in March, where he secured a knockout against Brock Jarvis in the third round. This upcoming match between Fundora and Thurman promises to be an exciting fixture in the boxing calendar.