Back of the line: Tim Tszyu will have to wait for a rematch

In an absolute war last month, former WBO Junior Middleweight champion Tim Tszyu was cut badly on the head and lost a split decision to late replacement Sebastian Fundora. With that loss, the first of Tszyu’s career, went the WBO title and the vacant WBC title that was up for grabs.

Although there was a rematch clause in the contract, the WBO has now reneged on that deal, mandating that Fundora face their interim champion, which will be the winner of the August 3 Terence Crawford - Israil Madrimov bout in Los Angeles. They have also required that Fundora defend the title no later than December 31 and with Fundora suspended until at least September, that leaves a very short window in which to make the fight.

This comes as a hammer blow to Tszyu, and highlights all that is rotten with the way boxing bouts are made. Tszyu can rightfully feel hard done by, having agreed to fight Fundora on just 12 days notice when Keith Thurman pulled out of the bout with an injury sustained in camp. Tszyu trained for Thurman, who is a 5′9″ orthodox fighter. Fundora is a 6′5″ southpaw.

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Tszyu’s camp seems untroubled by the WBO’s decision and are reportedly on track to make a fight against Vergil Ortiz on the undercard of that same August 3 fight in Los Angeles where the future mandatory will be decided.

The chances are that if and when Tszyu gets a shot to reclaim his title, it will not be against Fundora, but against Terence Crawford, who is heavily favored in the bout with Madrimov.