Tim Tszyu vs. Sebastian Fundora Odds
Here's everything you need to know about the boxing odds for Tim Tszyu vs. Sebastian Fundora on Saturday, March 30 – our expert predictions and picks.
WBO super welterweight Champion Tim Tszyu (24-0, 17 KOs) is in tonight's main event for the first Premier Boxing Champions card on Amazon Prime PPV (8 p.m. ET main card, cost: $69.95), which takes place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Who is Tszyu's opponent? Well, it was originally supposed to be Keith Thurman, who – despite being two years away from boxing and a lifelong welterweight – was getting a shot at the 154-pound title. And then, it was reported, that he would not be getting a title shot after all, thus making the bout a non-title fight at a 155-pound catchweight.
But then, as Thurman often has, he suffered an injury and ultimately pulled out of the fight. Sebastian Fundora (20-1-1, 13 KOs), who was slated to face Serhii Bohachuk on the same card for the vacant WBC super welterweight title, replaced him (and that vacant title now joins the WBO as part of this main event).
We last saw Fundora way back in April 2023. He got knocked out by Brian Mendoza while defending his WBC interim title. Nevertheless, Fundora is now co-starring on Saturday's Tszyu vs. Fundora event.
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So Fundora, who lost the interim WBC title via knockout, is now fighting for the full WBC title, as well as Tszyu's WBO title. And Tszyu now has a chance to add a second title after not defending one at all as of a week ago.
So this is your maiden voyage to PBC on Amazon – glad boxing made that so straightforward for you.
Oh, and we have an interesting co-main event tonight featuring WBA super lightweight champion Rolly Romero. He was the beneficiary of one of the worst stoppage decisions in recent memory over Ismael Barroso in May 2023, and he won the vacant title even while losing the fight on the cards at the time of the stoppage.
Romero (15-1, 13 KOs) is facing Isaac Cruz (25-2-1, 17 KOs), who has given Gervonta Davis his closest fight but hardly defeated non-offensive-minded Gio Cabrera in an unspectacular split decision this past July.
How did we get here? Gymnastics.
But we'll quickly set the stage (in the ring) and get to our breakdowns..
Let's proceed with my Tszyu vs. Fundora pick and prediction and a bonus Romero vs. Cruz pick and prediction.
Tszyu vs. Fundora Breakdown & Analysis
Fundora is the most maddening boxer in this division. He is 6-foot-6 with an 80-inch reach, but he insists on fighting as if he's 5-foot-5 and is undersized regardless of opponent. It's how he ultimately got clipped by Mendoza and dropped by Erickson Lubin before him.
Will he use his reach against the power-punching Tszyu? Unless he's completely changing his style, the answer is a resounding no.
Should he? Absolutely, but he's been stubborn before, and he'll likely be stubborn now.
.@Tim_Tszyu vs @SebastianFundo1. David vs Goliath.
History will be written tomorrow.Order the #TszyuFundora PPV today: https://t.co/gPo68woorTpic.twitter.com/Se0zbYl38I
— Premier Boxing Champions (@premierboxing) March 29, 2024
Tszyu is not someone you want to have a counterproductive game plan against. He's 5-foot-8 with a 70-inch reach, lives up to his "Soul Taker" moniker, and routinely decisioned Mendoza in October in a bout that did not have a knockdown despite it projecting to be an explosive one (it still was).
Regardless, Mendoza's chin is much more durable than Fundora, who will be exploited if he makes himself easy to find again.
And guess who loves to fight on the inside and work the body of his opponent? Tszyu – and inside fight plays into his hands, even as he'll eat shots from the high-volume Fundora.
Romero vs. Cruz Breakdown & Analysis
I interviewed Romero leading up to this fight, but honestly, Cruz is going to be a lot tougher than he appears to think – or at least what he gives off.
Romero is 5-foot-8 with a 68-inch reach, and though he has power, he'll likely elect to use his range and reach as he did early on against the aforementioned Tank Davis before being knocked out in Round 6 of their May 2022 bout.
Will he be able to box his way through 12 rounds and survive Cruz's onslaught? If you're pro-Cruz, you'll look at Romero's last performance and say no.
.@SignUp4KOs is all smiles. @IsaacPitbull98 is all business. Tomorrow #RollyPitbull will be all fireworks!
Order the #TszyuFundora PPV today: https://t.co/gPo68woorTpic.twitter.com/hjTZw2r3Z8
— Premier Boxing Champions (@premierboxing) March 29, 2024
If you're pro-Romero, you'll hold Cruz's last performance against him – and you'll also cite that Davis maintains he beat Cruz with an injured hand.
Everyone in boxing is a liar, but what we do know is that Cruz's come-forward style, while fearsome, could be broken through by someone with length, reach, ring IQ and a solid jab.
Romero has those attributes. But you also need a chin, and that's a question mark.
Tszyu vs. Fundora Prediction & Picks
Fundora doesn't deserve this title shot, and I think Tszyu will make that apparent.
Right now, Tszyu is the best in the world at 154 pounds, and he will be until Terence Crawford moves up from welterweight and possibly challenges him, as is now being rumored to unfold following this fight.
I don't think Fundora plays spoiler, and I think he goes down again. Give me Tszyu in Rounds 5-8 on bet365 at +220. Fundora was stopped by Mendoza in Round 7 and dropped by Lubin in Round 7. I think Tszyu could get this done even earlier – I initially looked at Rounds 1-6 – but I'll give Fundora more rounds until he breaks down.
For Romero vs. Cruz, the favorite for many will be Cruz by KO/TKO, which was my initial knee-jerk reaction. Allow me to say this: I actually think Romero could box his way to victory. He was successful against Tank before getting caught – arguably even ahead. You know what you're getting with Cruz's inside peekaboo style, but the right size and ability could pick that apart.
The question is this: Is Romero able to work off his jab and keep the fight at range without getting popped? If he could do that, he'll win.
But for Cruz, can he close the gap as an older Barroso did many months ago and get inside Romero's range to hurt him inside?
Those two questions being answered in real-time will lead to good live-betting opportunities.
The fight should be closer on the books, but I'll stick to my initial lean, and that's Cruz by KO/TKO at -120 on FanDuel.
If Romero wins, it's likely a decision, but he's explosive enough to warrant a straight moneyline play as a 'dog.
Enjoy the fights and don't go broke.
The Picks: Tim Tszyu by KO/TKO between Rounds 5-8 (+220 at bet365) | Isaac Cruz by KO/TKO (-120 at FanDuel)