Both Tim Tszyu and his opponent in last weekend’s bloody world title war, Sebastian Fundora, have received six-week suspensions from boxing as a result of the injuries they sustained in the epic encounter.
The Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) announced today that Tszyu will not be able to return to the ring until May 15, after he was left with 10 stitches on his scalp from the accidental Fundora elbow that left him gushing blood.
Fundora suffered a broken nose in the first round, which has seen him provisionally suspended until 27 September.
But NSAC stated that if Fundora sees an ENT (ear, nose, and throat) specialist before then and is cleared, his suspension will also be over as soon as the 15th of next month.
Fundora is already set to see an ENT for treatment on his broken nose, but reportedly isn’t planning to fight until Novermber regardless – roughly is the same time frame as Tszyu is planning.
Renowned boxing reporter Dan Rafael wrote: “Whatever his next fight is, Fundora won’t be back in the ring until at least November. [Promoter Sampson] Lewkowicz told Fight Freaks Unite that Freddy Fundora, Sebastian’s father and trainer, told him that his son would need the layoff, in part because of the nose injury.”
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“Yours!” Fundora gives Tszyu’s belt back | 00:41
Tim Tszyu’s trainer and uncle Igor Goloubev said Tszyu’s comeback will likely take place at the end of the year.
“Six to nine months, I’d say, we won’t do any sparring until we have a fight locked in, I work backwards from that date,” Goloubev said.
Fundora has been ordered to defend his WBO belt against mandatory “super” challenger Terence Crawford, the pound for pound king – and a defence would be required within six months of Sunday’s fight unless Fundora can demonstrate his medical recovery requires a longer period. The order requires negotiations to take place prior to April 25.
But the WBC – and promoters PBC – are seeking a fight between Fundora and former world champion Errol Spence Jnr, another big-money battle.
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Fundora’s team are willing to honour a rematch agreement with Tszyu, which would likely require the new champion to vacate his WBO title in order to fight the Aussie immediately, unless the pair take other fights first.