LAS VEGAS — It's kill or be killed for Tim Tszyu, and the Australian is ready for another war when he takes on WBC junior middleweight champion Sebastian Fundora in a rematch on July 19 at the MGM Grand.

Their first battle was one for the books, a bloodbath Fundora edged by split decision. Tszyu suffered a nasty gash across his hairline and was forced to fight under tremendous duress from the third round on. Tszyu (25-2, 18 KOs) bloodied Fundora (22-1-1, 14 KOs) as well in a valiant performance that was just short of victory in the eyes of the judges.

"We went through life and death together. It was war," Tszyu told The Ring. "It wasn't like he had an easy fight, was busted up as well. It was one hell of a fight. I got to test myself in the heart and prove to myself that I can go on no matter what.

"I never make any excuses, put it all on the line. I have a lot to prove, get to rewrite my mistakes. I know what's needed, what needs to be done, I feel it."

Tszyu's career has been curtailed since first fighting Fundora in March 2024. He was slated to face Vergil Ortiz Jr. that August, though the matchup was cancelled on May 31 as his cut from a career-first pro defeat wasn't healing fast enough to deem him safe to spar properly.

Tszyu then went on to challenge IBF titleholder Bakhram Murtazaliev and was bulldozed inside three rounds by the unbeaten champion two months later. He has since returned to the win column, courtesy of a 4th-round stoppage of Joseph Spencer on April 5.

"I think there's no such thing as a successful story without failures," said Tszyu. "A couple of bumps on the road doesn't mean you're completely out. But this year is gonna be like a vengeance year, that's the word for me. It started with Spencer and gonna keep on going."

Despite last year's aforementioned setbacks, Tszyu is still seen as the betting favorite with DraftKings having him listed at minus-170 and Fundora at plus-135.

"Fighting against Fundora can't be technical," Tszyu said. "We both like to press and bring the action. It's a bit hard to stay in distance and take your time - he's tall - you have to make it a fight. Anyone who fights him is in for a hard night at the office.

"He should have killed me when he had the chance. I was ready to die in that ring, and that's what kept me going. The hardest part was I lost my mind during the fight. From rounds three to nine I wasn't myself, adapted to close the fight, but it was a bit too late."

"It's going to be a war, of course. I'm ready."