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Sebastian Fundora vs Tim Tszyu 2 Keys to Victory: Breaking down tactics of each fighter
In March 2024, Sebastian Fundora edged Tim Tszyu via split decision in a blood bath which had ‘The Towering Inferno’ taking full advantage of an early nasty gash that opened up on Tszyu’s forehead. From there, Fundora plucked away with the jab from the distance to be crowned the new unified super welterweight world champion.
More than a year later, Fundora will put his WBC title on the line in a highly-anticipated rematch against Tszyu at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday night. They will run it back as the co-feature to a returning Manny Pacquiao challenging WBC welterweight world champion Mario Barrios.
- Read more | Oleksandr Usyk vs Daniel Dubois 2: Date, undercard, ringwalk times, TV channel, prediction, analysis, odds
After losing to Fundora, Tszyu (25-2, 18 KOs) was bulldozed by Bakhram Murtazaliev via third-round TKO in October before rebounding with a fourth-round TKO of Joseph Spence in April.
Fundora (22-1-1, 14 KOs) followed the win over Tszyu by demolishing Chordale Booker via fourth-round TKO in March.
Fundora’s decision to lock in the Tszyu rematch, instead of facing mandatory challenger Xander Zayas, forced him to vacate the WBO title, as reported by Ring Magazine.
Will Fundora use his reach to jab away at Tszyu and retain the WBC title in their rematch? Or will Tszyu exact revenge with a well-executed gameplan to become a two-time super welterweight world champion?
With plenty riding on this rematch, DAZN News' Mark Lelinwalla analyzes the keys to victory for both Fundora and Tszyu.
Sebastian Fundora’s Keys to Victory
Establish the jab, exploit reach advantage
At 6-foot-6, 'The Towering Inferno' stands nine inches taller than Tim Tszyu with 9.5 inches of reach advantage as well.
That vantage point should empower Fundora into establishing the jab from a distance and keeping Tszyu on the outside.
Poke away with pot shots
During their original clash last spring, Fundora was especially able to poke away at Tszyu with pot shots after the latter suffered a deep gash due to an accidental elbow.
The earlier the southpaw champion Fundora can assert the jab and score with clean pot shots behind it, the better his chances will be to retain his title.
Bait Tszyu inside, blast him with combinations
Giving up nearly a foot in height and reach, Tszyu will need to get inside of Fundora’s jab.
However, in those cramped quarters, Fundora is unassumingly a powerful puncher as he has shown the ability to piece together hard combinations in the pocket.
Therefore, the champ might actually be aided in baiting Tszyu inside only to punish the former titleholder with stinging combinations including doubling up on the uppercut which Fundora does with sharpness and booming power.
Tim Tszyu’s Keys to Victory
Make early deposits to the body
Tszyu showed his ability to pound Fundora’s body in their initial fight and would be wise to do the same in the rematch.
Making early deposits to the body could have Fundora conscious enough about the impending shots where he shows a lapse in his guard that Tszyu could take advantage of.
Hook around the guard, crank uppercut through it
If routinely successful in feinting to get inside, Tszyu should look to do one of two things: hook around the guard which Brian Mendoza found paydirt in with a stunning seventh-round TKO of Fundora back in April 2023. Or Tszyu should try launching an uppercut to split the guard and rock Fundora.
These might be his best bets to yell timberrrr against his taller opponent.
Catch and shoot
Go back and watch the original fight and Tszyu was catching and shooting well on Fundora especially during the early stages of the bout.
In some sequences, the Australian fighter would parry a shot from Fundora and rifle back a counter lead left hand to the chest or bury a right into the wiry champ’s chest.
The stronger Tszyu can catch and shoot with counters against Fundora, the better his opportunity will be to exact revenge and leave Las Vegas as a two-time super welterweight world champion.
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