Aussie boxer Tim Tszyu is facing an uncertain future following confirmation he will not get a re-match with Sebastian Fundora.
The development comes as Fundora, the new WBC and WBO light middleweight world champion, is likely to follow a demand from boxing officials to defend his belts against pound for pound king Terence Crawford.
In a significant blow for Tszyu, it was revealed on Monday the WBO has made Crawford the mandatory challenger for Fundora’s title following the 12-round slugfest in Las Vegas on Sunday AEDT.
The son of boxing royalty Kostya Tszyu started his fight in ominous touch, but a stray elbow from the ‘Towering Inferno’ opened up a nasty cut high on his forehead in the second round.
Tszyu – now (24-1) – said post fight he was ‘blinded’ by his own blood, as he suffered his first defeat in 25 bouts by split decision.
Aussie boxer Tim Tszyu faces an uncertain future following confirmation he will not get a re-match with Sebastian Fundora
New WBC and WBO world champion Sebastian Fundora (right) is likely to follow a demand from boxing officials to defend his belts against pound for pound king Terence Crawford
Fundora used his range well and managed to get the points decision over the Aussie following 12 brutal rounds
Both fighters were covered in blood throughout most of Sunday’s brutal contest in Las Vegas
Tzsyu’s bold decision to take on 197cm Fundora with less than two weeks’ notice may have serious career consequences
Many felt the fight should have been stopped following the accidental elbow given how deep Tszyu’s cut was.
While Tszyu was lauded for his bravery, reality soon set in when Fundora’s camp claimed he has no obligation to fight Tszyu next.
That comes despite Tszyu’s promoter No Limit Boxing insisting a re-match clause is in place, and the bout was to be staged on Australian shores.
Tellingly, ESPN has since reported there was no rematch clause in the contracts signed by both fighters.
With Fundora initially tipped to next enter the ring against former unified welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr, Crawford made it apparent on social media he wanted to fight his fellow countryman sooner rather than later.
Crawford also taunted Tszyu on X, posting: ‘You lost sir gotta work yo way back up.’
Respected boxing journalist Michael Benson then posted WBO president Paco Valcarcel has confirmed the governing body will order Fundora to put his belts on the line against Crawford.
The news leaves Tszyu needing to win his next fight before his team at No Limit Boxing then consider the next best bout to potentially win his two belts back.
It follows Spence Jr (28-1) declaring he was desperate to next fight Fundora, which caught the Aussie by surprise.
Tszyu said: ‘Interesting. I would like to fight Errol Spence as well, let me know if you want to get it on.’
The problem for Tszyu is he now has zero leverage.