It’s the multi-million-dollar roll of the dice that could land Tim Tszyu the biggest single payday in Australian sports history.
While some pundits believe Tszyu’s decision to take on American ‘Towering Inferno’ Sebastian Fundora on 12 days’ notice is madness, victory in Las Vegas on Sunday will secure a $US10 million ($A15.3 million) windfall – with even more riches in the offing.
That’s the eye-watering figure boxing insiders say the 29-year-old is fighting for at T-Mobile Arena prime time on Saturday night in the USA.
It is not the amount the son of a gun will earn if he beats Fundora, which would mean he and dad Kostya joining Leon and Corey Spinks as only the second father-and-son duo to become unified world boxing champions.
Instead, victory would set up a mega-fight with pound-for-pound king Terence Crawford, who last week announced he would exercise his right as WBO welterweight champion to be named mandatory challenger for the winner of Tszyu versus the 197cm Fundora.
Tszyu will take on American ‘Towering Inferno’ Sebastian Fundora on just 12 days’ notice – a brave decision considering the huge difference in height between the two
The Aussie will secure $15million if he beats Fundora – with another huge payday to follow
Sources have revealed that Tszyu (24-0, 17KO) will collect $US10million ($15.3million) to enter the ring with Crawford (40-0, 31KO).
That is more than double the $6.56million golf superstar Cameron Smith pocketed for winning LIV Golf London last year and helping the Crushers to second place in the teams’ event on the same day.
Smith also reportedly received between $US100 and $US125 million ($A153-191 million) to defect to the Saudi-backed breakaway tour and the country’s best basketball, baseball, soccer players and Formula One drivers can pick up eight-figure sign-on fees.
But no Australian athlete can ever boast of earning $15million in one day.
When his original opponent, former world champion Keith Thurman, pulled out of Sunday’s non-title pay-per-view blockbuster last week with a biceps injury, Tszyu could have sat back and waited.
Instead, he jumped at the chance to take on Fundora, who stands 22cm taller than him.
The Sydneysider said ‘zero’ boxers in the world would fight Fundora on such short notice, especially with his WBO world title on the line.
But Tszyu, a self-confessed throwback fighter who is ready for all comers, insists the risk is all Fundora’s.
Tszyu will collect $15.3m to enter the ring with Terence ‘Bud’ Crawford (pictured)
Tszyu (pictured beating Brian Mendoza in his most recent fight) says Fundora is the fighter who should be worried about the bout, not him
Tszyu plans to defend his unified belts against Crawford before stepping up to fight Canelo Alvarez for an even bigger payday
‘I’m not the one to fear,’ Tszyu said.
‘He should be fearing me. That’s the difference. Nothing stops me, no matter what.
‘In my mind, I live in a different era to where we are now. We live in an era of Twitter battles rather than fighters.
‘So I hope I can inspire more boxers out there. I saved the show – T-Mobile Arena, all of this stuff.
‘Every other fighter that’s fighting on the undercard, it’s all because of my decision, and it was like that [without hesitation].’
Should Tszyu unify the super-welterweight division, then defend his belts against Crawford, it is understood he won’t chase the chance to become an undisputed world champion.
With his legacy already secured, Tszyu craves a showdown with undisputed world super-middleweight champion Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez.
Alvarez is arguably the biggest name in boxing and a match-up with the Mexican megastar would mean Tszyu could potentially double the money he’d earn fighting Crawford.