While Tszyu was kayoed by Murtazaliev in his last world title showdown, Australia\u2019s pay-per-view king is far less concerned about the threat existing this time around in the hands of Fundora.<\/p>\n
In fact, Tszyu says he still remembers taking the initial punches from The Towering Inferno during their now infamous 2024 bloodbath — which he lost via split decision — and thinking \u201cIs this it?\u201d.<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/poster-fallback.png\"\/)
<\/p>\n
“Big Shoes” – Fundora’s mind games | 01:51<\/p>\n
Apart from being the world\u2019s tallest boxing champion, Fundora is also among the most awkward.<\/p>\n
Boasting a staggering 203cm reach \u2013 which is itself some 24cm longer than Tszyu\u2019s span \u2013 the Californian also doesn\u2019t fight like a traditional big man, continually coming inside to dogfight.<\/p>\n
But as for Tszyu\u2019s thoughts about his punching?<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s weird, man,\u201d the Australian said this week.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s like \u2026 stringy.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot impactful or heavy.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt feels like someone is pushing it.<\/p>\n
\u201cLike a cheese stick constantly whipping you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Recounting their 2024 showcase, and how Fundora\u2019s punches felt, Tszyu stressed he was never troubled in a bout where the biggest issue whose his nasty head cut suffered in the second round by a wayward elbow.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wasn\u2019t intimidated by him,\u201d Tszyu continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cI remember feeling his power and being in shock, thinking \u2018Is this it? Is that what they have been talking about? This guy\u2019s height and all that?\u201d<\/p>\n
So no fear?<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is zero fear,\u201d Tszyu deadpanned. \u201cZero.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tszyu embracing “Aussie takover” in LV | 02:46<\/p>\n
Apart from becoming a two-time world champion this Sunday, Tszyu is also looking to end a hoodoo stretching 30 years and claiming 11 of the country\u2019s greatest fighters — including Fenech, Katsidis, Shannan Taylor, Michael Zerafa, Horn, both Moloney twins, even Tszyu himself.<\/p>\n
While several Australians have won big in the world\u2019s fight capital \u2013 including Kostya Tszyu, Vic Darchinyan and Skye Nicolson \u2013 no Australian-born male has ever won a bona fide world title in Las Vegas.<\/p>\n
Worryingly, eight of those losses have also taken place inside the MGM Grand, where The Soul Taker now finds himself challenging for WBC gold.<\/p>\n
The run of defeats also extends well beyond title bouts, as shown by Fox Sports Australia\u2019s table of 16 notable Las Vegas losses (outlined below).<\/p>\n
Tszyu\u2019s first with Fundora has made plenty of headlines this week, particularly following suggestions from Fundora that the Aussie was not blinded by blood from the head cut as he claims.<\/p>\n
During Thursday\u2019s press conference, Fundora was again asked why he thought the cut never played a role in the outcome of their first fight?<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause they fought the whole fight,\u201d the champ replied.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf there was such a big problem, I think his corner would\u2019ve stopped the fight.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s what I think.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can only speak from my point of view.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf he\u2019s fighting me, I think he\u2019s fine.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf the fight stops, then the fighter isn\u2019t fine.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s what I saw.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was in the ring.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fundora vs Tszyu 2: Press Conference | 11:52<\/p>\n
At which point, Tszyu interjected.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know what?\u201d he started.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I hop into the ring, I come in with the mentality that I\u2019m going to die.<\/p>\n
\u201cSometimes that\u2019s a problem.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo for my corner to say \u2018I\u2019m going to stop the fight\u2019, that\u2019s not what I\u2019m about.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m about getting in there and going to the end.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf it means you\u2019re going to get knocked out then you\u2019re going to get knocked out.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen you try to get back up, get back up, get back up.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf my corner stopped it, I would\u2019ve had the s***s with them.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat answers the question of why the corner didn\u2019t stop it.\u201d<\/p>\n
“Die in the ring”: Tim calls out Fundora | 02:22<\/p>\n
Elsewhere, Tszyu has also spoken about emulating dad Kostya this Sunday.<\/p>\n
He also revealed how different things felt having him in camp prior to the brutal Bakhram stoppage, with many questioning afterwards if the Hall of Famer\u2019s presence had ignited his surprisingly aggressive start.<\/p>\n
While Tszyu has already stressed the old man is not banned from his camps, he admits now there was a different feel with him being present in Orlando, Florida.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t really feel a pressure,\u201d Tszyu says.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut my dad isn\u2019t just a normal dad that comes in and supports his son.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe brings a different presence and feeling.<\/p>\n
\u201cBrings an aura when he walks in.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not used to that.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd nor have I been used to him my whole time.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s why it rattled me.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot in a disrespectful way, but it just felt different.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fundora teases gameplan twist for Tszyu | 03:56<\/p>\n
Yet as for achieving history inside the same venue as some of his dad\u2019s greatest wins?<\/p>\n
\u201cMy dad won his first world title here,\u201c Tszyu said of the MGM Grand at Thursday\u2019s press conference.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe also won his undisputed title against Zab Judah here.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo to create this Tszyu legacy, Australian sporting moments \u2026 it\u2019s a big responsibility but a big pleasure.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t wait to get in there and live a young kid\u2019s dream \u2013 chasing legacy.\u201d<\/p>\n
When it comes to Australians fighting in Las Vegas however, our list of losses is a long and troublesome one, with some of the most notable including \u2026<\/p>\n
1 Jeff Fenech v Azumah Nelson<\/p>\n
June 28, 1991<\/p>\n
Mirage Hotel & Casino<\/p>\n
RESULT: SPLIT DRAW<\/p>\n
Long considered one of the greatest robberies in Australian boxing history. While it was Fenech who appeared to have dominated the hyped WBC super featherweight blockbuster, ringside officials incredibly determined the bout a draw. While the decision was only recently overturned to a Fenech victory by WBC officials, the now Hall of Famer has long conceded he was never the same fighter after the decision.<\/p>\n
Pacman explains why he’s fighting again | 02:31<\/p>\n
2 Tim Tszyu v Sebastian Fundora<\/p>\n
March 30, 2024<\/p>\n
T Mobile Arena<\/p>\n
RESULT: LOSS (SD)<\/p>\n
While initially billed as the first step of Tim Tszyu\u2019s American takeover, this showcase would eventually take a number of wild, and bloody twists, that included Keith Thurman withdrawing, Sebastian Fundora stepping up and, finally, The Soul Taker\u2019s head being severely gashed just six minutes in. Eventually, Tszyu would suffer the first loss of his career — a split decision bloodbath that saw Fundora win the WBO and WBC crowns in a shock upset.<\/p>\n
3 Jeff Horn v Terence Crawford<\/p>\n
June 9, 2018<\/p>\n
MGM Grand<\/p>\n
RESULT: LOSS (TKO)<\/p>\n
Less than a year after upsetting the legendary Manny Pacquiao, Brisbane\u2019s most famous fighting schoolteacher would suffer a tough stoppage loss against a man then considered the world\u2019s greatest \u2013 Terence Crawford. Fighting before a crowd boasting the likes of Mark Wahlberg and Lady Gaga, Horn fought gamely but eventually lost his WBO welterweight crown after being dropped and then stopped in the ninth.<\/p>\n
‘I want to take my time’ | 01:46<\/p>\n
4 Andrew Moloney v Joshua Franco<\/p>\n
November 14, 2020<\/p>\n
MGM Grand<\/p>\n
RESULT: NO CONTEST<\/p>\n
A Las Vegas robbery so bad, even Dame Helen Mirren was outraged. Fighting during the Covid pandemic, Moloney had the WBA super flyweight title snatched in the cruellest of circumstances — finishing Josh Franco within two rounds via big left hands, only for referee Russell Mora to declare a \u2018No Contest\u2019 after incorrectly suggesting the damage had been caused by a clash of heads. Afterwards, ringside officials spent 30 minutes reviewing tape, only to uphold the decision, which was widely panned by everyone from Jeff Fenech, Joe Rogan and Daniel Cormier to Rosie Perez, LL Cool J, even Dame Helen.<\/p>\n
5 Michael Katsidis v Juan Manuel Marquez<\/p>\n
November 27, 2010<\/p>\n
MGM Grand<\/p>\n
RESULT: LOSS (TKO)<\/p>\n
Michael Katsidis looked set to shock the boxing world when he dropped Mexican superstar Juan Manuel Marquez in just the third round of their hyped WBO lightweight title blockbuster. However Marquez not only beat the count, or rallied, but would eventually stop \u2018The Great\u2019 himself by the ninth. Despite the loss, Katsidis had an outstanding career Stateside \u2013 which included winning the interim WBO strap a year earlier, and inside the same venue, against American Vicente Escobedo.<\/p>\n
Tszyu ‘destined’ to take down Fundora | 03:21<\/p>\n
6 Joe Bugner v Muhammad Ali<\/p>\n
February 14, 1973<\/p>\n
Convention Center<\/p>\n
RESULT: LOSS (UD)<\/p>\n
OK, so there were no world titles on the line for this one, but when it comes to Australians taking big fights in Las Vegas you have to include any involving \u2018The Greatest\u2019. Dubbed \u2018Aussie Joe\u2019, Bugner initially travelled Stateside early in his career to spar Ali before the pair fought for real on Valentine\u2019s Day in 1973 \u2013 an entertaining bout that eventually saw the American win via decision. Bugner would eventually fight \u2013 and lose \u2013 twice to Ali by decision, the second time in Kuala Lumpur for the WBA, WBC and Ring heavyweight crowns.<\/p>\n
7 Jason Moloney v Naoya Inoue<\/p>\n
October 31, 2020<\/p>\n
MGM Grand<\/p>\n
RESULT: LOSS (KO)<\/p>\n
Fighting for the IBF bantamweight title, \u2018Mayhem\u2019 Moloney was brutally stopped in the seventh round of his showdown with a Japanese megastar considered by many as the greatest fighter anywhere on earth. Despite starting solidly, Moloney was dropped in the sixth round by Inoue and then finished in the seventh via vicious right counter.<\/p>\n
Pacman ready to prove doubters wrong | 02:03<\/p>\n
8 Shannan Taylor v Shane Mosley<\/p>\n
October 3, 2001<\/p>\n
Caesars Palace<\/p>\n
RESULT: LOSS (RTD)<\/p>\n
Fighting a prime Mosley for WBC welterweight gold, the Bulli Blaster, unsurprisingly, fought tough and gamely through five rounds before trainer Johnny Lewis called the contest off.<\/p>\n
9 Andrew Moloney v Junto Nakatani<\/p>\n
May 20, 2023<\/p>\n
MGM Grand<\/p>\n
RESULT: LOSS (KO)<\/p>\n
Moloney\u2019s bid to win the WBO super flyweight title was taken by a brutal finish that earned his superstar Japanese rival a 2023 Knockout of the Year gong.<\/p>\n
Porter expecting a ‘different Tim Tszyu’ | 02:36<\/p>\n
10 Robbie Peden v Marco Antonio Barrera<\/p>\n
September 17, 2005<\/p>\n
MGM Grand<\/p>\n
RESULT: LOSS (UD)<\/p>\n
Robbie \u2018Bomber\u2019 Peden had already fought and won three times in Las Vegas when he challenged Barrera for the IBF & WBC super featherweight titles. Which is also, of course, when the nation\u2019s Las Vegas curse struck — losing a wide decision to the Mexican star. The loss came one fight after winning the vacant IBF crown.<\/p>\n
11 Troy Waters v Simon Brown<\/p>\n
January 29, 1994<\/p>\n
MGM Grand<\/p>\n
RESULT: LOSS (MD)<\/p>\n
The youngest of three fighting brothers from the Central Coast, Troy Waters competed for world titles on three separate occasions \u2013 including when he challenged Jamaican Simon Brown for the same WBC super welterweight strap Tim Tszyu is now chasing. The Aussie fight favourite would eventually lose a tough contest on the scorecards, 114-114, 112-116, 111-118. Waters sadly passed away aged 53 following a long battle with leukaemia.<\/p>\n
“No Head Noise”: Why Tim has the edge… | 04:17<\/p>\n
12 Michael Zerafa v Erislandy Lara<\/p>\n
March 30, 2024<\/p>\n
T Mobile Arena<\/p>\n
RESULT: LOSS (KO)<\/p>\n
Fighting on the undercard to Tim Tszyu, Australia\u2019s boxing bad boy was stopped in just the second round of his bout against WBA middleweight champ Erislandy Lara. The result was part of a horror weekend for Australian boxing that also saw Tszyu and Liam Wilson suffer world title losses.<\/p>\n
13 Nedal Hussein v Oscar Larios<\/p>\n
November 27, 2004<\/p>\n
MGM Grand<\/p>\n
RESULT: LOSS (UD)<\/p>\n
While best remembered for being robbed of a win against Manny Pacquiao in 2000, tough Sydneysider \u2018Skinny\u2019 Hussein also challenged for the WBC super bantamweight title in Las Vegas \u2013 losing to Mexico\u2019s Oscar Larios by decision.<\/p>\n
Gallen edges SBW in gritty grudge match | 01:50<\/p>\n
14 Lenny Zappavigna v Miguel Marquez<\/p>\n
December 3, 2011<\/p>\n
MGM Grand<\/p>\n
RESULT: LOSS (UD)<\/p>\n
Lenny \u2018Zappa\u2019 suffered the first loss of his career when challenging Mexico\u2019s Varquez for the IBF lightweight judges. All three judges scored it for the winner: 118-110, 118-110 and 117-111.<\/p>\n
15 Bilal Akkawy v John Ryder<\/p>\n
May 4, 2019<\/p>\n
T Mobile Arena<\/p>\n
RESULT: LOSS (TKO)<\/p>\n
A young Sydneysider with a huge punch, Akkawy suffered the first and only loss of his professional career when fighting Englishman John Ryder for the WBA interim middleweight title.<\/p>\n
Fundora STILL ‘that much better’ | 06:34<\/p>\n
16 Lovemore Ndou v Miguel Cotto<\/p>\n
May 8, 2004<\/p>\n
MGM Grand<\/p>\n
RESULT: LOSS (UD)<\/p>\n
A fighter famed for stepping up to any challenge, and never being stopped, Ndou bravely fought through eight rounds with what he revealed afterwards was a busted rib as part of a gutsy decision loss against Cotto. While no title was on the line in this one, the result had massive ramifications for the championship hopes of both \u2013 with Cotto claiming WBO gold in his next fight.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Tim Tszyu has declared he has \u201czero fear\u201d for the punching power of Sebastian Fundora, likening the 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