Tim Tszyu will defend his WBO junior middleweight title vs. Sebastian Fundora on March 30 in Las Vegas in the main event of PBC's inaugural PPV on Prime Video, sources told ESPN, after Keith Thurman suffered a biceps injury in training that prompted his withdrawal.
Tszyu, a rising star from Australia, had an opportunity to reach the next level with his most high-profile opponent yet. Instead, the 29-year-old action fighter will face the 6-foot-5, 154-pound Fundora on 12 days' notice.
The WBO ruled that the winner of Tszyu-Fundora must start negotiations with the mandatory challenger within five days of the fight. The mandatory is Terence Crawford, ESPN's No. 1 pound-for-pound boxer, who used his status as WBO super champion at 147 pounds to position himself into a title shot in a fourth weight class.
The fight will be quite an adjustment for Tszyu. He was preparing for Thurman, an orthodox boxer coming up from 147 pounds who is 5-8 and likes to box and move. Fundora, known as "The Towering Inferno," is a southpaw who applies non-stop pressure.
The 26-year-old Fundora hasn't competed since April, when he suffered a seventh-round KO loss to Brian Mendoza in one of the biggest upsets of 2023.
Fundora (20-1-1, 13 KOs) is aided by the fact he was preparing for a WBC vacant title fight vs. Serhii Bohachuk on the undercard of Tszyu-Thurman. The vacant WBC title also will be up for grabs when Fundora fights Tszyu.
Bohachuk, like Tszyu, is an orthodox pressure fighter. He now will fight Mendoza on the undercard.
Fundora, ESPN's No. 5 junior middleweight, outpointed Carlos Ocampo in October 2022 in his most-recent win. Tszyu (24-0, 17 KOs) knocked out Ocampo in the opening round in June.
That bout was sandwiched last year between Tszyu victories over Tony Harrison (TKO 9 in March) and a unanimous decision over Mendoza in October.
Tszyu, ESPN's No. 2 junior middleweight, is the son of Hall of Fame boxer Kostya Tszyu. The Thurman bout was set to take place at 155 pounds with no title on the line since Thurman (30-1, 22 KOs) wasn't ranked by the WBO.
The bout was also set to be Thurman's first in 25 months.
Thurman, 35, has one career loss. That setback came against the legendary Manny Pacquiao in July 2019, when Thurman was floored in Round 1 and rallied before dropping a split decision.
With Thurman sidelined, PBC will need to replace the Fundora-Bohachuk fight that was set to open the four-fight PPV. Rolly Romero will defend his WBA junior welterweight title vs. Isaac Cruz in the co-feature while Erislandy Lara puts his WBA middleweight title on the line against Michael Zerafa in the third fight.
Last edited by Ruthless-RKO on 23 Mar 2024, 05:33, edited 1 time in total.
While I applaud tszyus attitude of just taking the biggest fight available I can’t help but think this might be a silly move.
Tszyu has been fighting 5”10ish orthodox guys his entire career. Last southpaw he faced was wade about 8 years ago… didn’t have a big ams career so not like he was fighting them there every other week too.
Now he is taking on a 6”5 southpaw with only about 3 days left to sparr… unless he can find a cruiser willing to go light on him 6”5 154 southpaws are a pretty rare breed to get on camp for a couple of days…
I rate Timmy, but seb is going to be fighting somthing he has seen a million times befor. Tszyu is gunna be tripping balls for a few rounds figuring out timing and range, probably wear a few clean strait lefts if seb throws em from range.
Backing Timmy to win but could be rough early for him. .
This is a much tougher fight for Tszyu isn’t it? A real banana skin. This guy is a nightmare on his day, despite that bad loss which may have ruined him, but more likely he’ll bounce back from I think
Has anyone been to the T-Mobile arena? I might go along with a friend, who is not a boxing fan and might only stay for one fight ….so I’m thinking if we get cheaper tickets at the back, are we going to be looking at two ants in the distance?
MightyWarrior wrote: ↑19 Mar 2024, 03:55
This is a much tougher fight for Tszyu isn’t it? A real banana skin. This guy is a nightmare on his day, despite that bad loss which may have ruined him, but more likely he’ll bounce back from I think
Has anyone been to the T-Mobile arena? I might go along with a friend, who is not a boxing fan and might only stay for one fight ….so I’m thinking if we get cheaper tickets at the back, are we going to be looking at two ants in the distance?
Not quite two ants in the distance. Kind of like two ants at the bottom/middle of a goldfish bowl with no water and 19,000 ants surrounding them.
MightyWarrior wrote: ↑19 Mar 2024, 03:55
This is a much tougher fight for Tszyu isn’t it? A real banana skin. This guy is a nightmare on his day, despite that bad loss which may have ruined him, but more likely he’ll bounce back from I think
Has anyone been to the T-Mobile arena? I might go along with a friend, who is not a boxing fan and might only stay for one fight ….so I’m thinking if we get cheaper tickets at the back, are we going to be looking at two ants in the distance?
Not quite two ants in the distance. Kind of like two ants at the bottom/middle of a goldfish bowl with no water and 19,000 ants surrounding them.
Pretty happy with the opponent change.
As far as Timmeh's development as a contender, Thurman may have given him some learning opportunities early on, I think Fundora will do the same.
I do worry about Keith Thurman taking on punchers at this stage of his career, the same way I thought it was a bad idea for Chris Algieri to fight Connor Benn.
Undefeated rising star Tim Tszyu will take on all-action contender Sebastian “The Towering Inferno” Fundora for Tszyu’s WBO title (pending approval), and the vacant WBC 154-pound world title, headlining a PBC Pay-Per-View event available on Prime Video Saturday, March 30 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Tszyu had originally been scheduled to face two-time world champion Keith Thurman, who was forced to withdraw after suffering a biceps injury in training. Fundora had already been preparing to compete in the pay-per-view opener before being moved up to the main event.
The pay-per-view will begin at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and also features WBA Super Lightweight World Champion Rolando “Rolly” Romero taking on Mexican star Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz in the co-main event, plus WBA Middleweight World Champion Erislandy “The American Dream” Lara duels Australia’s Michael Zerafa in a 12-round attraction. The pay-per-view opener will now see WBC Flyweight World Champion Julio César Martínez defending his world title against unbeaten contender Angelino Cordova. Martinez vs. Cordova had originally been scheduled to appear in prelims action.
In addition to the PPV being available for purchase on Prime Video, regardless of Prime membership, fans will also be able to continue to access the telecast through PPV.com, as well as traditional cable and satellite outlets.
Preceding the pay-per-view will be a two-fight PBC on Prime Video lineup beginning at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT, topped by rising middleweight Elijah García taking on contender Kyrone “Shut It Down” Davis in a 10-round attraction. Kicking off the stream will be exciting 154-pound contenders Serhii Bohachuk and Brian Mendoza battling for the Interim WBC Super Welterweight Title. Bohachuk had been originally scheduled to face Fundora before the changes to the lineup. The two matchups will be available via free access to all fans, regardless of Prime membership or purchase of the PPV card
*TIM TSZYU VS. SEBASTIAN FUNDORA*
The son of International Boxing Hall of Famer Kostya Tszyu, the 29-year-old Tszyu (24-0, 17 KOs) comes off a red-hot 2023 campaign that saw him elevated to world champion at 154-pounds while defeating former world champion Tony Harrison, top contender Brian Mendoza and former title challenger Carlos Ocampo. A native of Sydney, Australia, Tszyu made his U.S debut against U.S. Olympian Terrell Gausha in March 2022, earning a unanimous decision. Tszyu grew up playing soccer, but soon gravitated toward boxing. The decision led to him following in the legendary footsteps of his father, Kostya, who was an undisputed 140-pound champion.
Fundora (20-1-1, 13 KOs) rocketed to the top of the super welterweight division with a fan-friendly style and bruising toughness in the ring. His unbeaten streak came to an end in his last outing, as he got caught and was defeated by Brian Mendoza in April of last year. At nearly 6-foot-6, the 26-year-old southpaw from Coachella, Calif., towers over his opponents, but has displayed an appetite for toe-to-toe combat from short range. Fundora showed his mettle in April 2022, battling the hard-hitting Erickson Lubin in an instant 2022 Fight of the Year contender. Despite both men hitting the canvas, Fundora stood tall in the end, prompting Lubin’s corner to stop the fight at the end of the ninth round. Fundora represents a boxing family, as he is trained by his father Freddy alongside his younger sister, IBF Flyweight World Champion Gabriela.
*ROLANDO ROMERO VS. ISAAC CRUZ*
Part of the Mayweather Promotions stable, Romero (15-1, 13 KOs) is known for his brash talk that he backs up with power in both hands as well as an exciting, unique style that makes him a must-see whenever he steps between the ropes. The 28-year-old rose to the ranks of world champion in his last outing, stopping Ismael Barroso in round nine to win the title in May. It was Romero’s first return to the ring since a May 2022 defeat against three-division champion Gervonta Davis. Prior to the Davis fight, the Las Vegas resident Romero won an interim title in August 2020 by earning a close but unanimous decision over then unbeaten Jackson Marinez.
One of the most exciting fighters in boxing, the 25-year-old Cruz (25-2-1, 17 KOs) has racked up three consecutive victories since dropping a competitive and entertaining decision against undefeated superstar Gervonta Davis in December 2021. A native of Mexico City, Cruz shot up the lightweight rankings in 2020, announcing his presence with an electrifying first-round knockout over veteran Diego Magdaleno in October before adding dominant decisions over Francisco Vargas and Jose Matias Romero. After stopping former champion Yuriorkis Gamboa in April 2022 and veteran contender Eduardo Ramirez in September 2022, Cruz returned this past July to turn away the previously unbeaten Giovanni Cabrera by decision.
*ERISLANDY LARA VS. MICHAEL ZERAFA*
Lara (29-3-3, 17 KOs) was the longest reigning 154-pound world champion before he lost a tough split-decision to Jarrett Hurd in a 2018 title unification match that earned “Fight of the Year” from the BWAA. Lara returned from that fight and battled former 154-pound world titleholder Brian Castaño to an exciting draw in another narrow fight that could have gone Lara’s way. Lara most recently moved up to middleweight, capturing his WBA title with a first round knockout of Thomas LaManna in May 2021, before KO’ing Gary O’Sullivan in May 2022. Lara faced a slew of the top 154-pounders in the sport, including Canelo Alvarez, ahead of his middleweight debut.
Melbourne, Australia’s Zerafa (31-4, 19 KOs) is long established as one of his country’s top contenders and has won four-straight to earn the title fight on March 30. Zerafa has split a pair of matchups against former champion and Australian rival Jeff Horn in addition to a first round knockout of longtime contender Anthony Mundine. The 31-year-old previously fought stateside in 2015, as he dropped a contest to former middleweight champion Peter Quillin. The veteran has also challenged former champion Kell Brook and defeated previously unbeaten fighters Danilo Creati and Isaac Hardman in his last two fights.
*JULIO CESAR MARTINEZ VS. ANGELINO CORDOVA*
Trained by the renowned Eddy Reynoso, Martínez (20-2, 15 KOs) first captured his flyweight world title with a ninth-round stoppage of Cristofer Rosales in his stateside debut in December 2019. The 29-year-old has gone on to defend the title five times, besting previously unbeaten opponents Jay Harris and Samuel Carmona, while most recently stopping Ronal Batista in May. A native of Mexico City, Martínez’s only blemish since a split-decision loss in his pro debut was a decision loss to future Hall of Famer Roman Gonzalez in March 2022.
The 28-year-old Cordova (18-0-1, 12 KOs) earned a career-best victory in his last outing, as he bested former world champion Angel Acosta on his way to a 10-round unanimous decision victory last April. A native of Ciudad Bolivar, Venezuela, Cordova has yet to taste defeat since debuting in 2017, with a draw in just his fourth fight as the only blemish. He made his U.S. debut in June 2022, defeating Axel Aragon Vega by decision before the triumph over Acosta.
*ELIJAH GARCIA VS. KYRONE DAVIS*
Fighting out of Phoenix, Arizona, García (16-0, 13 KOs) earned three impressive victories in 2023, kicking off his year last March with a knockout of the previously unbeaten Amilcar Vidal. He followed that up with a pair of performances on the undercards of two of the biggest events of the year, first defeating Kevin Salgado on the Gervonta Davis vs. Ryan Garcia pay-per-view in April before knocking out Armando Resendiz on the Canelo Alvarez vs. Jermell Charlo pay-per-view in September. The precocious García has moved fast since turning pro in 2020 and has knocked out seven of his last nine opponents.
The 29-year-old Davis (18-3-1, 6 KOs) picked up two victories in 2023, dominating Cristian Fabian Rios in January before scoring a unanimous decision over Cruse Stewart in December. Those victories came after a run that saw Davis battle two-time champion Anthony Dirrell to a draw in February 2021, before stepping in as a late replacement two fights later to drop a hard-fought contest against super middleweight superstar David Benavidez. An amateur standout representing Wilmington, Delaware, Davis trains in Philadelphia under the tutelage of top trainer Stephen “Breadman” Edwards.
SERHII BOHACHUK VS. BRIAN MENDOZA
A 28-year-old from Ukraine, Bohachuk (23-1, 23 KOs) now resides in Los Angeles, where he’s fought out of since turning pro. The 28-year-old has won five-straight outings, including 2023 stoppages of Nathaniel Gallimore and Patrick Allotey. This run has come after a defeat to Brandon Adams in March 2021 and has seen him rise back up the 154-pound rankings. He won his first 18 fights after turning pro in 2017 following an extensive amateur career.
Originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico and now fighting out of Las Vegas, Mendoza (22-3, 16 KOs) will return to the ring after traveling to Australia last October to challenge Tim Tszyu for his world title in a matchup that saw him lose by decision. Prior to that fight, The 30-year-old scored one of the year’s biggest upsets in April as he stopped the previously unbeaten Fundora with a sensational knockout in round seven, solidifying his own status at 154 pounds. Reinvigorated since teaming with renowned trainer Ismael Salas, Mendoza had previously knocked out former unified 154-pound champion Jeison Rosario in November 2022. Mendoza had put together a three-fight winning streak since dropping a decision to highly touted knockout artist Jesus Ramos in September 2021.
Updated Line-up for Pay-Per-View Event Featuring FOUR WORLD TITLE FIGHTS from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas Beginning at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT:
Tszyu vs. Fundora – WBO & Vacant WBC 154-Pound World Titles
Rolando Romero vs. Isaac Cruz – WBA 140-Pound World Title
Erislandy Lara vs. Michael Zerafa – WBA 160-Pound World Title
Julio Cesar Martinez vs. Angelino Cordova – WBC 112-Pound
World Title
PBC on Prime Video Show Streams Live and for Free at
6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT Preceding PPV Action
with Two-Fight Lineup Featuring:
Elijah Garcia vs. Kyrone Davis – 10-Round Middleweight Clash
Serhii Bohachuk vs. Brian Mendoza – Interim WBC 154-Pound Title
As with all new ventures, there are kinks and bugs to work out before it runs on all cylinders.
So while Amazon’s Prime Video makes its U.S. debut Saturday with a pay-per-view card headlined by Tim Tszyu’s pursuit of a second world-title belt against Sebastian Fundora at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, the rest of the world will have to access the bout by their own means.
A Prime Video spokesperson confirmed to BS Monday that the streaming service’s pay-per-views, for now, are “just available in the United States, with the potential to add more territories in the future.”
How much later is the question of the hour, and the spokesperson said international viewers should continue to check the Premier Boxing Champions website for global listings.
A global-television executive who handles foreign distribution of fights for PBC did not immediately respond to messages left by BS.
In Tszyu’s native Australia, for instance, an existing foreign broadcast arrangement with Fox will allow the bout to be seen there.
Tszyu (24-0, 17 KOs) is defending his WBO belt and fighting for the vacant WBC strap against Fundora (20-1-1, 13 KOs), a unique, 6-feet-5 ½ junior middleweight (154 pounds) with an 80-inch reach. The card’s co-main is Rolly Romero’s 140-pound title defense against Mexico’s Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz.
The ultimate beauty of PBC’s alignment with Prime Video is that beyond it’s powerful reach in the U.S., it intends to also connect the fights globally on the same platform.
The next scheduled Prime Video pay-per-view is undisputed super-middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez defending his four belts against Mexican countryman and unbeaten former 154-pound champion Jaime Munguia on May 4 – Cinco de Mayo weekend.
After that, boxing officials have reported a June 15 pay-per-view is coming with Gervonta “Tank” Davis versus Frank Martin and David Benavidez versus Oleksandr Gvozdyk heading that card.
The Prime Video spokesperson said the new “PBC Championship Series” cards of non-pay-per-view bouts with “up-and-coming fighters” will debut later this year on Prime Video in the U.K. and other countries.
I’m going to this show - thanks for the running order Ruthy- Been trying to get a read on it but it’s confusing ..some saying bill starts at 3….wondering if they’re gearing it for Aussie time …Ringwalk app says Rolly Cruz on at 6:30….surely too early. Driving there from LA sat morning
Any info anyone got much appreciated - got a mid range ticket for 200 bucks
Thought OÇampo gave Fundora some issues early and Mendoza caught him flush with á similar punch to those OÇampo had landed. I feel Tim will get him going backwards early, Fundora's hands will come down and a similar headshot to the Mendoza fight will end it. Its a good card.
Tim is being overrated based on his father's name and thus far undefeated, but Fundora has massive physical advantages and potential, so the fight ain't the gimme some think. Ocampo was KOed in 1 by Tim, but Fundora near shut him out in a decision as one mutual comparison.
Fundora was also shutting out Mendoza before being caught, whereas Tim dropped a number of rounds in taking a modestly wide decision. In short, yeah, Tim the fav, but Fundora will be the best he's faced is certainly capable of closing the gap, but they gotta fight, so Amen to that and congrats to both for making a fight fans might like to see
can anyone explain why Mendoza was fighting for the interim Wbc title having just fought and lost to tszyu who is now fighting for the vacant WBC title…
Thankfully mendoza lost so there isn’t a very very pointless wbc unification/rematch. Still creates a seemingly unknown unworthy wbc interim champ…
