Fears for Tim Tszyu's boxing career after devastating scenes for Aussie against Sebastian Fundora

Boxing fans and pundits have been blown away after Tim Tszyu was battered into submission before the eighth round of his world title fight against Sebastian Fundora. And there are genuine concerns about what it means for his career.

The Aussie boxer took on Fundora on Saturday in Las Vegas (Sunday Australian time) in a rematch for the WBC super welterweight title. Tszyu held the title before relinquishing it to the American boxer in a split decision last year. 

On Saturday, Tszyu was knocked down in the opening round, and although he fought back gallantly his team made the staggering decision to quit he sat on his stool following the seventh round. The 30-year-old Aussie seemed to have worked his way back into the fight, which many pundits thought was on level pegging when Tszyu called it quits. 

Tim Tszyu couldn't continue after the seventh round against Sebastian Fundora. Image: AAP

Aussie champion Billy Dib wrote on social media: "Smart decision by team Tszyu. Tim has a big heart but he was totally outgunned." Another pundit commented: "Never thought I'd see the day he refused to continue fighting. Man has the heart of a lion, but Sebastian Fundora was just too good. In Tszyu's words 'He's one tough motherf**ker'."

It's the third-straight loss for Tszyu on American soil after being beaten by Fundora twice and undefeated Russian Bakhram Murtazaliev. Boxing fans couldn't help but wonder what might have been had Tszyu not suffered a nasty gash to the head in his first fight with Fundora that severely hampered him.

“I tried to give it everything but I just couldn’t do it,” Tszyu said after the fight. "Victory belongs to Sebastian Fundora. The best boxer at 154 pounds on the planet right now. He was just the better man. He’s very hard to land. He’s tall as f***. I felt I was shadow boxing with myself. It is what it is. Congratulations to Fundora and his team."

Training great Johnny Lewis had earlier predicted Tszyu to win, but foreshadowed an advantage that Fundora gained in the first fight. "Tim Tszyu over the last few rounds of that last fight was blindfolded, such was his vision, and it was more than a bit of bad luck. It was dreadful luck," Lewis told AAP. "It's also an advantage to Fundora that he's seen the best of what Tszyu was delivering. So that's also an advantage to Fundora."

Sebastian Fundora celebrates after beating Tim Tszyu. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Tszyu was looking to join legendary father Kostya as a multiple world champion. Julio Cesar Chevas Sr and Jr are still the only biological father-son pairing to have both claimed multiple world titles. 

Speculation is now rife about what lies next for Tszyu. The Aussie is unlikely to fight in America again, and his immediate future has been left under a cloud.

Former world champion Shawn Porter said on the coverage: “It’s really hard not to feel this train ride come to a halt. Doesn’t mean it’s going to end, it’s just slowed down. I don’t believe Tim Tszyu has fought his way out of title contention. It just doesn’t go through Sebastian Fundora.”

Tim Tszyu was knocked down in the first round, and quit after the seventh. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Peter Badel of The Courier Mail in Brisbane wrote: “If Tim wants to rebuild his career, and it could be a one or two year rebuild, he needs to fix his defence. This is the fourth time he’s gone down in the first or second round. Wade Ryan dropped him early in his career, Terrell Gausha dropped him, Murtazaliev dropped him and now this. He’s got to fix his defensive technicalities if he wants to survive in this sport.”

American writer Ryan Songalia added: "Might be the end of the road for Tim Tszyu after his third loss in four fights. He's only 30 but he's absorbed a lot of punishment in his career."

Saturday night's loss at the MGM Grand's Garden Arena was the 30-year-old's third from his past four bouts overall, after he went unbeaten in his first 24 professional fights. The Aussie, now 25-3 with 18KOs, might consider a move up to the light-middleweight ranks, or hope Keith Thurman lives up to his word after the US star called him out after slaying Brock Jarvis earlier this year in Sydney.

with AAP

This article originally appeared on Yahoo Sport Australia at https://au.news.yahoo.com/boxing-world-in-disbelief-after-tim-tszyu-quits-in-staggering-scenes-against-sebastian-fundora-031640883.html

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