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Sebastian Fundora, Tim Tszyu both overcome adversity, but Fundora comes back to win unified title via split decisionEsther Lin/Premier Boxing Champions

Boxing

Sebastian Fundora, Tim Tszyu both overcome adversity, but Fundora comes back to win unified title via split decision

LAS VEGAS -- The unification bout for the super welterweight title on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena between Sebastian Fundora and Tim Tszyu was about nothing more than resilience.

Both fighters showed incredible resilience, self-belief and refused to give in against significant odds.

A week less than a year ago, Fundora was trying to figure out how to put the pieces back together after he was knocked out for the count of 10 by Brian Mendoza. It was not only his first loss, but his first time being knocked out. And if there is anything that will give a fighter doubts, it's getting kayoed.

He was preparing to fight Serhii Bohachuk when Keith Thurman tore his biceps 13 days and pulled out of the fight with Tszyu. So Fundora willingly stepped into the main event, believed in his chance to win even when oddsmakers made him a 7-1 underdog and then went out Saturday and proved all the skeptics wrong.

He had the last laugh at those who ripped the Premier Boxing Champions for giving him the fight coming off the knockout. He made the bettors who fervently backed Tszyu look bad. Tszyu went from a 5-1 favorite to a 7-1 favorite by the first bell.

Fundora won a split decision by scores of 116-112, 115-113 and 112-116. KevinIole.com had it 115-113 for Fundora.

"We've been praying for this moment for a long time and I'm just happy that Tim Tszyu gave me the opportunity and the opportunity became my dream come true," Fundora said afterward.

Fundora was nearly overwhelmed in the first two rounds, as Tszyu came out aggressively and was raking him with blistering hard shots. But seconds before the second round ended, Tszyu moved forward with his head down and literally ran into Fundora's elbow. Fundora did not move it in Tszyu's direction, but it opened a brutal cut.

And what looked like it could be a dominant KO win for Tszyu suddenly had a dramatically different look. The ringside physician nearly stopped the bout after the second, observing the cut. It was just above Tszyu's hairline on the top of his head, but it was wide and deep and blood flowed freely the rest of the night.

He had difficulty seeing and couldn't find a way to get away from Fundora's persistent jab. He was 10 inches shorter and had a nine-inch reach disadvantage, which was a problem in the first place. But then he had trouble seeing and Fundora was able to keep the jab in his face.

According to CompuBox, Fundora threw 437 jabs, more than the total punches Tszyu threw (400). It landed often enough to pile up the points and win him rounds, even though he didn't land anything that was particularly hard. Tszyu's face looked like it had a lawn mower run over it afterward, though.

Despite that, Tszyu never stopped attacking and looking for a way to win.

Just taking the fight, he went from a veteran 5-8 right-handed to a 6-6, young southpaw. He's done that repeatedly in his career, which shows the character of the man. He believes in himself and in his ability to defeat anyone in his weight class and simply doesn't get bothered by things like opponent changes.

He went out and fought like a champion, made no excuses afterward and accepted his bad luck with grace and class.

"I'm a throwback fighter and whatever circumstances come up, I'll keep going," Tszyu said. "But all credit belongs to the man who won tonight. These things happen. My momentum was rolling in the first two rounds and then boom, you're blinded completely. This is boxing, it's part of the sport.

"I show up no matter what and always bring the fight. There's no excuses. I'll fight whoever, whenever. If you want a good scrap, you know who to call."

This fight was an example of two men who did things the right way, and they rewarded the crowd and those who purchased the pay-per-view with a competitive and fun fight. 

The only thing that ruined it was allowing Errol Spence, the former welterweight champion who was stopped in a welterweight title fight last year, to step into the ring and challenge Fundora. Spence wasn't competitive for a minute of his fight with Terence Crawford last year and doesn't deserve to simply come back and fight for a unified title.

He's a bigger name, so he may get it, however undeserved it would be.

"It's time to get it on," Spence said. "He's got the big dog now. It's my first time seeing him in person. He's got good height, but we'll break him down."

Crawford pointed out the absurdity of Spence's request.

Tszyu deserves a rematch given the circumstances, but don't bet on that. Serhii Bohachuk won the interim WBC super welterweight title on the undercard with a terrific performance against Mendoza, and is expecting a fight with Fundora. That would do next-to-no business, though, so who knows if the WBC will stick to its plans it announced before the fight?

It's anyone's guess what may happen, but both men made themselves proud with their efforts Saturday.

"I didn't want to break my nose today, but this is my life and this is boxing. I just had to be smart. I used my brain. I hope you saw me use my boxing skills tonight.

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