- Aussie lost the WBO title belt in Las Vegas on Sunday
- Fought by Blinded by Blood for 10 rounds
- His fiancée was ringside during an all-out war
Tim Tszyu’s fiancée Alexandra Constantine gushed over him in a heartfelt Instagram post after watching him lose his world title under controversial – and extremely bloody – circumstances on Sunday.
The 29-year-old lost a split decision to 197cm American Sebastian Fundora after being covered in blood and barely able to see when he was cut by an elbow in the second round.
Former Australian world champion Billy Dib and former top fighter Gabriel Rosado both said Tszyu was robbed because the fight should have been stopped due to the terrible damage he suffered.
Tim Tszyu is pictured with fiancée Alexandra Constantine in Las Vegas, where he lost his world title in controversial circumstances on Easter Sunday
The Australian was blinded by his own blood after suffering a massive gash to the top of his head in the second round of the fight (pictured)
The loss meant the Sydneysider lost his WBO super welterweight belt and suffered a huge setback in his quest for mega-fights with champions Terence Crawford and Canelo Alvarez.
Constantin – who watched the drama unfold from ringside – had nothing but praise for her partner on Tuesday.
“Extremely caring, irresistibly charming, illegitimately loyal and the most loyal I have ever known @timtszyu,” she wrote.
“We are adapting resiliently and moving forward, with the support of our beautiful family, closest friends and our LOVING, unwavering fans. I’d like to say it again: ‘we’ll be back for all the belts’.
“I hope you all find your own Tim Tszyu – and for now, I’ll take care of mine.”
Her post came after Tim’s mother Natalia predicted the couple would give her a grandson who would follow in the family’s embattled footsteps.
Constantijn (pictured congratulating Tszyu on his 2020 win over Jeff Horn) called her husband “irresistibly charming and illegitimately loyal” in a gushing message after the loss
Fundora’s team vows to offer Tim Tszyu a rematch after initial reports that the US camp would not give him the chance to regain his title.
Despite No Limit Boxing boss George Rose claiming his previously undefeated charge in Sydney had a rematch clause in his contract, doubts over a sequel emerged after Tszyu called Fundora’s manager Sampson Lewkowicz a ‘weasel’ in the build-up to the blockbuster of unification.
However, Lewkowicz has since released a statement declaring that Team Fundora’s first priority is a rematch with Tszyu ahead of a fight against pound-for-pound king Terence Crawford or fellow American star Errol Spence.
“We were all so eager to get into this fight that many of our agreements were made verbally. There wasn’t enough time,” Lewkowicz said.
Australian ex-world champion Billy Dib said the fight should have been stopped due to the damage Tszyu suffered (pictured) – and if that had happened he would still have his WBO belt
On Tuesday, the Australian posted a photo of the aftermath of the cut, which required ten stitches to close
‘But I want to make it clear that Team Fundora will honor the agreement. My word always equals a signed contract.
“Tim Tszyu, your rematch is ready when you are.”
This is good news for Tszyu, after initial concerns that he may have to return to the bottom of the pecking order for more superfights in the US.
Despite Tszyu also accusing Fundora of being unprofessional for eating pizza and burgers in the lead-up to last week’s showdown, there was goodwill between the two camps immediately after the fight, with the American offering his opponent the titles he had just won.
There are reports that the WBO has ordered Fundora to face Crawford, who announced two weeks ago that he would exercise his right as WBO welterweight champion to be named as mandatory challenger for Sunday’s winner.
Crawford and Fundora would also fight for the WBC title.