There was no hesitation in accepting a fight with Sebastian Fundora on 12-days’ notice, Tim Tszyu says.
Tszyu was due to face Keith Thurman in the headliner of Prime Video’s maiden pay-per-view event at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena on March 30.
A bicep injury saw Thurman withdraw, forcing organisers into a last-minute change of plans.
MORE: Who is Sebastian Fundora? 'Towering Inferno' steps in to face Tszyu
Tszyu was offered two names - Fundora and Erislandy Lara - both of whom had other fights booked on the same card.
The undefeated Aussie explained his thought process in agreeing to fight Fundora.
“There was no hesitation, it was straight away, a 10-second thing,” Tszyu said.
“Yes, it made me pissed off but the focus shifts and the show goes on, simple.
“You’ve got to be able to take on all comers. He’s tricky, he’s tall but whatever, I’m confident in victory by any means anyway.”
Fundora was due to take on Serhii Bohachuk for the vacant WBC super welterweight title on March 30, while Lara is booked to defend his WBA middleweight title against fellow Aussie and Tszyu rival, Michael Zerafa.
“They gave me Fundora or Lara. I didn't want to break Zerafa's heart,” Tszyu said, before confirming he wanted to remain at super welterweight.
“I’m at 154 [pounds] right now, I’m chasing glory there.”
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In switching from Thurman to Fundora, Tszyu is facing two entirely different opponents.
Fundora, a southpaw, is freakishly tall for the division at 197cm, while Thurman is 20cm shorter and fights in the orthodox stance.
Tszyu said his team had already taken steps to bring in appropriate sparring partners.
“We flew two boys in last night, so the boys arrived today, this morning, and I’ve got my last week of sparring,” he said.
“It’s a big shift, I understand, I’ve been preparing for Keith Thurman… it is what it is.
“This is what it takes to be great, simple.”
One of the sparring partners Tszyu had been working with was Brian Mendoza.
The hard-hitting American is both Tszyu and Fundora's most recent opponent.
In April last year, Mendoza scored a savage seventh round knockout over Fundora while down on the cards, having clipped him with a left hook before following up with two more heavy shots to end the contest.
Mendoza will now step in to face Bohachuk for the interim WBC title on the undercard on March 30, and Tszyu said he spoke about his experience fighting the 26-year-old.
“He basically said Fundora’s like a height bully, that’s all he is,” Tszyu said.
“He’s got average boxing skills, average IQ, he’s just got this physique that he allows just to bully people.
“But you can really work him out and Mendoza got him good, let’s just say that.”
Prior to Thurman taking the fight, Tszyu had been preparing for a bout with Erickson Lubin, another lefty.
The 29-year-old said that should hold him in good stead to make the necessary adjustments for Fundora.
“We did over 100 rounds before I came into camp with southpaws,” he explained.
“I’m comfortable with them. Whoever they put in front of me, I really don’t care less.”
While challenging, the late shift has also presented a significant opportunity for Tszyu.
Despite holding the WBO super welterweight title, Tszyu’s bout with Thurman wasn’t going to be sanctioned as a title bout due to the American not holding a ranking at 154-lbs with that organisation.
However, the WBO has confirmed Tszyu can defend his title against Fundora, while the vacant WBC title will also be on the line, meaning the winner will walk away with two of the four major belts in the division.
MORE: Which belts are Tszyu and Fundora fighting for?
While the stakes were raised significantly, Tszyu doesn’t believe many fighters in his position would have agreed to take on “The Towering Inferno” at such short notice.
“Zero,” he said when asked who else in the division would have stepped up.
“There is no reason for me to back out. I fear no man.
“I know I’m the best at 154, I know what I possess, it’s simple.
“He should be fearing me, that’s the difference.
“In my mind, I’m in a different era to where we are now.
“We live an era of Twitter battles rather than fighters.
“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 (snaps fingers).”
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Tim Tszyu vs. Sebastian Fundora fight card
- Tim Tszyu (c) vs. Sebastian Fundora for the WBO and WBC super welterweight titles
- Rolando Romero (c) vs. Isaac Cruz for the WBA super lightweight title
- Erislandy Lara (c) vs. Michael Zerafa for the WBA middleweight title
- Julio Cesar Martínez vs. Angelino Cordova for the WBC flyweight title
- Elijah García vs. Kyrone Davis; middleweight
- Serhii Bohachuk vs. Brian Mendoza for the interim WBC super welterweight title