Notebook: Fundora, Tszyu alter plans, will instead meet in rematch
Espinoza auditions for Inoue fight; Bam, Pacheco to share card; Melikuziev-Fulghum 168 eliminator set; Quick hits; Show and tell double
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There’s been a big change of plans in PBC land.
Instead of a pair of much-discussed summer fights, one between junior middleweights Tim Tszyu and Keith Thurman and the other being WBC/WBO junior middleweight titlist Sebastian Fundora’s mandatory defense against Xander Zayas, the plan now is for a rematch between Fundora and Tszyu, Fundora promoter Sampson Lewkowicz and Tszyu promoter George Rose of No Limit Boxing told Fight Freaks Unite on Tuesday.
The Fundora-Tszyu II date and site are not set but it could take place as soon as July 19 headlining a PBC on Prime Video pay-per-view or in August. Whichever date it lands on PBC likely will place the Gervonta Davis-Lamont Roach lightweight title rematch on the other date.
PBC and Lewkowicz had been in talks with Zayas promoter Top Rank about a summer bout that both boxers said they were interested in.
The fight was ordered days after Fundora (22-1-1, 14 KOs), 27, a southpaw from Coachella, California, returned from a one-year layoff and knocked out Chordale Booker in the fourth round on March 22 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. After the fight, Zayas joined Fundora in the ring to pose for photos together and both said they wanted the fight.
However, no deal was made and the fight was scheduled to go to a purse bid on Friday in Las Vegas. However, Fundora’s team on Tuesday pulled out of the purse bid in favor of the Tszyu rematch.
Fundora will vacate — or be stripped if he doesn’t vacate — of the WBO belt and defend the WBC title against Tszyu (25-2, 18 KOs), 30, of Australia.