Tim Tszyu’s trainer has slammed critics of their cut management during the boxer’s bloody loss to Sebastian Fundora and believes the fight should have been stopped by the doctor.
Igor Goloubev, Tszyu’s uncle and long-time trainer, said the commentary around the cut man Mark Gambin’s treatment of the wound is ill-informed, while revealing Tszyu could be out of action until December.
Notable cut man Jacob “Stitch” Duran and former world champion Chris Algieri are among numerous critics of Tszyu’s corner.
“These people just want positions, everyone will say they could do it better but they weren’t there,” Goloubev told this masthead.
“If you are not there you can’t know, we’ve never seen a cut like this, the blood was flowing like it was coming from a pipe. You need to stitch it up and put tape to stop the blood, you can’t make the bleeding just stop.
“I was sure the doctor was going to stop it. The fight should have been stopped after round four.
“But he let the fight keep going, Tim was wiping the blood away, he can barely see anything and they kept the fight going, so I thought, OK we have a job to do.
“When I walked into the ring after the fight, I thought we won. Fundora landed a lot of jabs but Tim hit him with the harder shots.”
UFC 300: PEREIRA V HILL | SUN 14 APR | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports. Main Event on Kayo Sports and Foxtel is the new exclusive home of UFC Pay-Per-View events!
Goloubev said Tszyu’s comeback could be 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.
Tim Tszyu has been given a golden opportunity to reclaim his world title after Sebastian Fundora’s promoter on Tuesday said the “Towering Inferno” had agreed to a rematch.
Fundora’s promoter Sampson Lewkowicz said he would put aside $30 million blockbuster bouts against Errol Spence or Terence Crawford to honour his word of a return bout against Tszyu.
It is understood that Allianz Stadium in Sydney and Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane are two potential locations to host Fundora-Tszyu II should the newly-minted unified American world champion consider a rematch in Australia.
In the wake of Tszyu’s blood-soaked, split-decision loss to Fundora last Sunday, when he fought 10 rounds with a shocking head cut, Lewkowicz indicated his fighter would next look to big-money bouts against Crawford or Spence.
But the veteran promoter has since backflipped, apologised to the Tszyu camp and insisted Fundora would put his WBC and WBO world titles on the line against the Sydneysider in his next fight.
“Tim Tszyu, step up when you’re ready,” Lewkowicz said.
“My word is always equal to a signed contract. Your rematch is ready when you are.
“The ring is waiting.”
Lewkowicz said he was initially angered when Tszyu called him a “weasel” on the eve of the fight but he had no interest in being vindictive towards the fallen Australian world champion.
“I realised I made a mistake,” he said. “I have apologised to Tszyu’s management.
“I sent a WhatsApp message and said, ‘Sorry, I’m upset, but my word is my bond and you have the rematch.
“I was very upset with Tim Tszyu and the way he behaved. I was upset how he called me the names he called me. It was disrespectful to a 73-year-old man.
“I didn’t sign any rematch clause but after the fight I woke up the next morning and said to myself, ‘This is not me’.
“I was upset by what Tszyu said about me but I have to honour what I say and I did say verbally there would be a rematch.
“I have scratched Spence (as the next fight option) and said it will not happen.
“In a court of law, I don’t know if they (Tszyu’s promoter No Limit) can beat me but we don’t need to go to court, we don’t need a lawyer.
“I have worked in this business for three decades and they know my word is my bond.
“You don’t need a contract with me. I will comply with my word.”
The rematch may yet take place again in Las Vegas given that Fundora is the defending champion and may be reluctant to give up home advantage by undertaking a gruelling trip to Australia.
A Fundora-Tszyu II return bout is likely to take place within 180 days.
Tszyu’s manager Glen Jennings said the “Soul Taker” (24-1, 17KO) could overcome the first loss of his career to exact revenge against Fundora (21-1-1, 13KO).
“Tim would win a rematch, 100 per cent,” Jennings said.
“He nearly won this fight with blood pouring out of his head. He was one point away with one judge from keeping his belt.
“We will pursue the rematch. It makes sense.
“Fundora has the same options against Crawford and Spence that we had.
“I understand money rules boxing but we would love a rematch, either here or in Vegas.
“It’s a contract. It’s not just verbal. We’ve had a mixed run with his promoter.
“He is a crafty campaigner and he has rattled our cage but he knows there is a time frame in place that we can exercise and enforce.
“We would love a big Australian show, that’s not out of the question.
“I will let No Limit run that side of things and we’ll look at the commercial terms and work out the best outcome for Tim.
“The loss on his record is irrelevant. It will do some damage in the rankings but he was the talk of the town in America and everyone was amazed by his courage and bravery.
“I would love to see Fundora come to Australia.
“There is not a doubt in my mind that Tim, trouble free, will win the rematch and could stop Fundora.”
#Tim #Tszyu #return #date #loss #Sebastian #Fundora #Las #Vegas
