Fundora Keeps Us Guessing: “Sticking to the Script”

Image: Fundora Keeps Us Guessing: "Sticking to the Script"
Tszyu vs Fundora
By Robert Segal - 04/02/2024 - Comments

Sebastian Fundora, the new WBC and WBO junior middleweight champion, posted a cryptic message on social media, saying he’s “sticking to the script.”

Fundora (21-1-1, 13 KOs) is expected to fight whoever his management at PBC chooses for him next, which appears to be Errol Spence Jr. There’s a verbal rematch promise by Fundora’s management to Tim Tszyu, but with both guys being with PBC, we could see the Aussie step aside for Spence to face Fundora first.

“I’m just sticking to the script #toweringinferno🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥,” said Sebastian Fundora on X.

Spence, Tszyu, or Crawford? It’s All About the Benjamins

Although the World Boxing Organization has ordered Fundora to defend against their picked-out mandatory Terence Crawford, that won’t have any bearing on who Sebastian fights.

This is business and Crawford, as good as he is, doesn’t bring in the same kind of cash that the former IBF/WBA/WBC welterweight champion Spence (28-1, 22 KOs) does.

The money that a Fundora vs. Spence fight can generate overshadows Sebastian’s obligations to defend against his WBO mandatory Crawford or face Tszyu in an immediate rematch.

Tszyu’s Appeal Dims, Spence’s Star Shines

A second fight between Fundora and Tszyu, 29, likely wouldn’t attract many PPV buys because their match last Saturday lacked the excitement fans saw from the co-feature bout between Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz and Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero.

Indeed, Tszyu looked pretty average, loading up with occasional single punches, and eating repeated jabs from the 6’5″ Fundora.

Fans want to know if this means he’s planning on giving former WBO 154-lb champion Tim Tszyu a rematch after his bloody, tainted 12-round split decision win over him last Saturday night.

Elbow Controversy and Fan Disinterest

It’s widely believed that Tszyu would have won the fight if not for catching an elbow from the 6’5″ ‘Towering Inferno’ Fundora in the second round, which caused a deep cut on the top of his head that bled profusely for the remainder of the contest, leaking in the champion’s eyes, making it difficult to see.

Tszyu’s cut was bad luck on his part and likely did affect the outcome of the fight, but the problem is, he still lost, and U.S. fans won’t be eager to see him back in there with Fundora right away. The Australians obviously want to see an immediate rematch, but that’s not where a second fight between Fundora and Tszyu would take place.