In a monumental upset, challenger Sebastian Fundora stunned the boxing world by defeating the previously undefeated WBO junior middleweight champion Tim Tszyu. Fundora emerged victorious in a 12-round unanimous decision, claiming Tszyu’s belt along with the vacant WBC strap. The judges’ scores were 116-112 in favor of Tszyu, 116-112 in favor of Fundora, and 115-113 also in favor of Fundora. This unexpected outcome left fans and analysts alike in disbelief, as Tszyu was widely expected to retain his title.
Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz showcased his dominance by destroying WBA light welterweight champion Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero in an eighth-round knockout. Cruz overwhelmed Romero with powerful shots, leading to a stoppage by the referee. Meanwhile, 40-year-old Erislandy ‘The American Dream’ Lara demonstrated that age is just a number by securing a second-round TKO victory over challenger Michael Zerafa to defend his WBA middleweight title. Lara’s two-year layoff did not deter his exceptional skills and power, as he made quick work of Zerafa.
WBC flyweight champion Julio César ‘El Rey’ Martínez successfully defended his title with a 12-round majority decision against the previously unbeaten Angelino Cordova. Despite knocking Cordova down twice in the third round, Martinez faced fierce opposition in the latter half of the fight. Cordova’s strong comeback was not enough to sway the judges’ scorecards, with the final scores reading 113-113, 114-112, and 114-112 in favor of Martinez.
In a thrilling battle on the prelim card, Serhii Bohachuk claimed the interim WBC junior middleweight title with a twelve-round unanimous decision victory over Brian Mendoza. Bohachuk’s relentless assault on Mendoza was met with resilience, as Mendoza absorbed punishment and continued to press forward. Despite a late surge in the championship rounds, Mendoza fell short due to conceding too many early rounds, resulting in the judges’ scores of 118-110, 117-111, and 117-111 in favor of Bohachuk.
The main card featured high-profile matchups that captivated audiences, including Tim Tszyu versus Sebastian Fundora, Rolly Romero versus Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz, Erislandy Lara versus Michael Zerafa, and Julio César Martínez versus Angelino Cordova. The preliminary card also delivered intense action with Elijah Garcia facing Kyrone Davis and Serhii Bohachuk taking on Brian Mendoza.
Despite being the heavy favorite, Tim Tszyu suffered a shocking defeat at the hands of Sebastian Fundora. Fundora capitalized on the opportunity to become a two-belt champion by toppling Tszyu for the WBO and WBC 154-lb titles. Tszyu’s unexpected loss raised questions about his future trajectory in the boxing world, particularly in relation to potential matchups against elite fighters like Errol Spence Jr. or Terence Crawford. Sebastian Fundora’s dramatic victory solidified his status as a rising star in the sport, leaving a lasting impact on the boxing landscape.
Overall, the recent boxing event showcased a mix of surprising upsets, dominant performances, and exciting matchups, capturing the essence of the sport’s unpredictability and thrill.