In a shock development, Aussie champ Tim Tszyu will no longer be fighting Keith Thurman on March 31 (AEDT) in Las Vegas after the American suffered a freak injury during a training session.
Tsyzu is now set to defend his WBO junior middleweight title against Sebastian Fundora according to ESPN boxing insider Mike Coppinger.
Thurman was forced to withdraw just 12 days out from the bout after sustaining a biceps injury.
BOXING: Tszyu v Fundora & Zerafa v Lara live from Las Vegas | SUN 31 MAR 11AM AEDT | Exclusive to Main Event, order on Kayo Sports. No Kayo subscription needed.
It’s believed that the former unified world champion ruptured a bicep during a sparring session last week, with the injury severe enough to rule him out of the Tsyzu fight.
Fundora’s most recent professional fight was a KO loss to Brian Mendoza in April 2023.
Tszyu also last fought Mendoza, but defeated him by unanimous decision when the two clashed on the Gold Coast late last year.
Fundora’s loss to Mendoza was his first, with the 26-year-old still holding an impressive 20-1-1 professional record (13 knockouts, 7 by decision).
The American was due to fight on the Tsyzu-Thurman undercard against Serhii Bohachuk.
The new opponent will be quite the adjustment for Tsyzu, with Fundora nicknamed the “Towering Inferno” due to his 197cm frame.
That’s 22cm taller than Tsyzu and 26cm taller than Thurman.