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Fundora upsets Tszyu for WBO title

boxing31 March 2024 10:48
By:Ron Jackson
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Sebastian Fundora © Gallo Images

In what was considered a major upset, Sebastian “The Towering Inferno” Fundora (21-1-1; 13) won on a bloody 12-round split decision over previously undefeated WBO junior welterweight champion Tim Tszyu 24-1; 17 to win Tszyu’s WBO title and also claim the vacant WBC title on Saturday night at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Tszyu made a good start, scoring with big right hands to the head of the taller Fundora.

However, he suffered a bad cut on the top of his head when he accidentally dipped into Fundora’s elbow at the end of the second round. Fundora was also hurt and bleeding from the left eye.

His corner was unable to stop the bleeding, as the taller Fundora kept Tszyu at the end of his jab for the rest of the fight.

The scores were 116–112 Tszyu, 116–112, and 115–113 Fundora.

ISAAC “PITBULL” CRUZ WINS WBA TITLE

Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz (26-2-1, 18) won the WBA junior welterweight title against Rolando “Rolly” Romero (15-2; 13) on an eighth-round stoppage at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

ERISLANDY LARA RETAINS WBA MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLE

WBA middleweight champion Erislandy “The American Dream” Lara (30-3-3’ 17) stopped WBA No 1 rated Michael Zerafa (31-5; 19) on Saturday night at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas at 2:19 of the first round.

The 40-year-old Lara scored with a straight left that dropped Zerafa, who barely beat the count but then collapsed into the ropes. The time was 2:59.

JULIO MARTINEZ RETAINS WBC FLYWEIGHT TITLE

WBC flyweight champion Julio César “El Rey” Martínez (21-3; 15) retained his title on a twelve-round majority points decision against the previously unbeaten WBC No 14 Angelino Cordova (18-1-1; 12) on Saturday night at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Martinez scored two knockdowns in the third round. Cordova came back well, but it was not enough.

Scores were 113-113, 114-112, and 114-112.

SERHII BOHACHUK WINS WBC INTERIM JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLE

In a bout for the vacant WBC interim junior middleweight title, Serhii “El Flaco” Bohachuk (24-1; 23) scored a 12 unanimous points decision over Brian “La Bala” Mendoza (22-4; 16) on Saturday night at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Bocachuk pressed the action throughout to win with scores of 118-110, 117-111, and 117-111.

Former WBO No 1 welterweight contender Alexis “Lex” Rocha (24-2; 16) won on a seventh-round stoppage against Fredrick “General Okunka” Lawson (30-5; 22) on Saturday night at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

GILBERTO 'ZURDO' RAMIREZ WINS WBA CRUISERWEIGHT TITLE

Former super middleweight champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (46-1; 30) outscored the previously unbeaten WBA cruiserweight champion Arsen “Feroz” Goulamirian (27-1; 19) over twelve rounds on Saturday night at the YouTube Theater in Inglewood, California.

Ramirez won with scores of 118–110 on all three judges' scorecards.

KUBRAT PULEV WINS WBA INTERNATIONAL HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE

WBA No 10 rated heavyweight Kubrat “The Cobra” Pulev (31-3; 14) won on a 12-round unanimous points decision over late substitute Ihor “The Hulk” Shevadzutskyi (11-2; 9) to win the WBA International heavyweight belt on Saturday night at the Arena Armeec in Sophia, Bulgaria. The scores were (117–111) on all three judges' scorecards.

Cruiserweight Tervel Pulev (19-1; 14) won on an eight-round unanimous points decision over Rolly Lambert Fogoum (16-3-1; 1). Scores were 79-73, 89-73, and 80-72.

Super middleweight Derrick Osaze (13-1; 3) won a third-round knockout over 39-year-old Joel Julio (39-20; 33).

Oscar Valdez wins vacant WBO interim junior lightweight title

Former two-weight world champion Oscar Valdez (32-2; 23) won a seventh-round TKO against Liam Wilson (13-3; 7) to win the vacant WBO interim junior lightweight title on Saturday night at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale.

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