Sebastian Fundora upsets Tim Tszyu in Las Vegas to become new WBO and WBC light middleweight champion

Sebastian Fundora became WBO and WBC light middleweight champion as he upset Tim Tszyu in Las Vegas.

The Australian fighter Tszyu arrived as WBO champion, with the vacant WBC belt added to the fight to give the chance for both contenders to emerge as a unified champion if they won.

The card had been scheduled for the largely inactive Keith Thurman to make his return against Tszyu, but a bicep injury forced him out of the match-up.

Fundora had been slated to take on Ukrainian Serhii Bohachuk on the undercard for the WBC interim strap at the same weight, and he was promoted to challenger status to make sure the night could go ahead.

He presents a unique challenge for most fighters at 154lb, with his 6’ 6” frame usually only seen in the heavyweight division, and with relatively little chance for Tszyu to adapt his preparation, an upset was not out of the question, and so it proved.

There was an element of misfortune for Tszyu as he was struck by an accidental elbow from Fundora, which cut his forehead and hampered his vision.

While the incumbent had started well, the cut continued to bleed throughout the match and “The Towering Inferno” was able to use his jab effectively to take the fight the distance, winning with a 116-112 115-113 112-116 split-decision victory.

"It means the world," Fundora told PBC. "Now, I think my dad is going to run for Trainer of the Year."

Tszyu explained the impact of the cut, saying: "I couldn't see, but all credit belongs to the man who won tonight."

Elsewhere on the card, Bohachuk was less disrupted by a change of opponent, beating Brian Mendoza for the WBC interim title, while Erislandy Lara became WBA middleweight champion as he knocked out Michael Zerafa.

Spiky WBA super lightweight champion Rolando Romeo was upset by “Pitbull” Isaac Cruz, who scored a stoppage win.

In the night’s first championship bout, Julio Cesar Martinez won a majority-decision victory over Angelino Cordova to retain his WBC flyweight title.

Zurdo Ramirez scored a unanimous decision win as he made his first official cruiserweight appearance, defeating WBA world champion Arsen Goulamirian.

The Mexican began his career at middleweight but intends to finish at heavyweight, and put on an accomplished display as each judge gave him the nod with scores of 118-110 in California.

In Sofia, former world heavyweight title challenger Kubrat Pulev defeated Ihor Shevadzutskyi with a unanimous decision-win.

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