Tim Tszyu stood in the centre of the ring, a broad smile on his face and proclaimed what everyone present wanted to hear.
“I’m back. I’m f***ing back.”
After three defeats in his last four fights, Tszyu returned home to Sydney to claim an emphatic 10-round victory over underwhelming American Anthony Velazquez.
Tszyu cut his opponent with a brutal shot in the sixth, leaving an ugly open gash under his left eye.
But the American, who looked badly out of his depth, remained on his feet for the entire 10 rounds as Tszyu regained some vital confidence after a desperately damaging year.
“I really just wanted to feel comfortable in there,” Tszyu said.
“Not go for the KO and get reckless.
“I wanted to take my time, use the jab. I’ve got all the skills in the world.
“Scorecard of 10 rounds [to nil], pretty happy with that.”
Tim Tszyu was still caught by the American challenger with the few punches he threw. (Getty Images: Matt King)
Although the one-sided points victory will doubtless do wonders for the 31-year-old’s shattered confidence, it is unlikely that many of the world’s best will have been left quaking in their boots at what they saw in the ring in the Sydney Entertainment Centre.
Tszyu was able to regain some of his menacing aura with a patient, methodical stalking approach to the fight, dominating the centre of the ring and darting out damaging jabs and brutal body shots.
But there will still be questions over whether he could do so against a fighter willing to throw back, which Velazquez barely did.
And, when the American did throw, Tszyu was still liable to be caught.
“If he’s fighting like that, you’re not going back to the top,” domestic rival Michael Zerafa said on Main Event.
“I’m not saying that as a hater, or as me and Tim don’t like each other, it’s as a pure boxing lover.
“Doing that, you won’t survive. That’s just the truth.Â
“I actually want him to come out there and make a statement, and have his moment of Tim’s back, and potentially a bigger fight with me and him, or another Aussie winning a world title. But I wasn’t impressed.”
Tim Tszyu has his arm raised, but there will be tougher challenges ahead. (Supplied: Top Rank Boxing)
If anything, this fight was more a repeat of his dominant fourth-round TKO dismantling of a similarly outclassed American Joseph Spencer between his defeats in world title clashes against Bakhram Murtazaliev and Sebastian Fundora.
Stepping back up to that world-class level will clearly require a lot more work,
But the simple fact of getting his new partnership with Cuban trainer Pedro Diaz off to a winning start is a good enough beginning as the Australian attempts to climb boxing’s precipitous slopes towards a world title once more.
“Thank you Australia, thanks for backing me,” Tszyu added.
“Boxing is a roller coaster of a ride, emotions up and down, but I’m very blessed to be in this position right now.”
Earlier, in the co-main event, Sam Goodman out-pointed former amateur rival Tyler Blizzard in a clash of styles in their featherweight contest.
In a barnstormer of a prelim fight, Koen Mazoudier out-fought game challenger Dominic Molinaro to retain his Australian super welterweight title by majority decision.
Tokyo Olympian Paulo Aokuso returned after more than 12 months out the ring to comfortably beat Uzbekistan fighter Shukhrat Abdullaev.
And Paris Olympian Callum Peters claimed the Australian middleweight strap after a TKO victory against Cody Beekin, dropping the older man twice in the third round before the referee stepped in to end the contest in the sixth.
Look back on how all the action unfolded in our live blog.
Key Events
13h ago13 hours agoWed 17 Dec 2025 at 12:12pm
14h ago14 hours agoWed 17 Dec 2025 at 11:26am
14h ago14 hours agoWed 17 Dec 2025 at 11:17am
Show all key events
13h agoWed 17 Dec 2025 at 12:35pm
Thanks for being with us
So a good win for Tim Tszyu, albeit against a limit opponent.
Regardless, a win is a win and he will no doubt hope to use this as a stepping stone towards greater challenges.
We have more boxing for you this week, with Jake Paul against Anthony Joshua – another challenge of a very different sort, I’m sure you’ll all agree.
But we’ll be there regardless.
Thanks for your company this evening.
See you next time.
13h agoWed 17 Dec 2025 at 12:35pm
Tszyu silences(?) the doubters
Well done Tim Tszyu! Thanks for a great blog Simon – my memory is shot these days, can you remind me what Jeff Fenench said about Tszyu’s preparation?
– Mike
Thanks folks.
And yes, Mike, you’re right.
Jeff Fenech was less than complementary about Tszyu’s preparation. He even used a naughty word.
But once the dust has settled, I think Tszyu will admit he wanted more from that fight.
Yes, a win is a win, but his opponent was not up to much.
It gave me real Joseph Spencer vibes, actually.
He will need more opponents at that level before stepping up again for mine.
But we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.
13h agoWed 17 Dec 2025 at 12:17pm
Tim Tszyu: ‘I’ve got the belief’
Tim Tszyu says that he’s got “the belief. “
“I’ve got the belts in my mindsight, but one step at a time.
“It’s a long ride.
“You never know where we can go.”
And as for the questions over whether he would retire?
“I’m back. I’m f***ing back.”
13h agoWed 17 Dec 2025 at 12:15pm
‘Thank you Australia, thanks for backing me’: Tim Tszyu
Here is Tim Tszyu.
“I just wanna thank everyone for coming,” he says.
“Thank you Australia, thanks for backing me.
“Boxing is a roller coaster of a ride, emotions up and down, but I’m very blessed to be in this position right now.
“I wanna thank everyone from the bottom of my heart, my previous team, my current team, thanks to everyone who stuck by me. I appreciate the love.
“I really just wanted to feel comfortable in there.
“Not go for the KO and get reckless. In the past that’s what did for me
“I wanted to take my time, use the jab. I’ve got all the skills in the world.
“Scorecard of 10 rounds, pretty happy with that.”
13h agoWed 17 Dec 2025 at 12:12pmTim Tszyu claims bloody, points victory
(No Limit Boxing)
Let’s have a look at the scorecards.
100-90.
100-90.
100-90.
A complete shut out.
Tim Tszyu by unanimous decision.
The phoenix rises from the ashes to claim a dominant victory.
13h agoWed 17 Dec 2025 at 12:10pm
Tszyu vs Velazquez, scorecards
We will go to the scorecards.
But there’s no need really.
Tszyu won this by 10 rounds for my money, 100-90,.
Velazquez showed very little, the step up in class to big for him.
13h agoWed 17 Dec 2025 at 12:05pm
Tszyu vs Velazquez, Round 10
Final round.
Tszyu would love a knock out.
But Velazquez has been running effectively here.
Tszyu has a bit of strapping on his glove that’s come loose after 24 seconds in the round and it’s loose, so the referee is stopping them from fighting on.
It’s the Velazquez corner that has some tape to fix it. Goodness me, this is a bit farcical.
Tszyu jabs, Velazquez misses.
But now Velazquez is swinging and swinging wildly and only just misses with a couple of overhand rights! Don’t want one of them to land…
Tszyu lands a jab that has Velazquez spinning away.
Velazquez jabs a couple of times.
But Tszyu comes back and bloodies the face of his opponent again.
Good left from Tszyu as Velazquez charged in!
Into the last minute.
Velazquez throws a right that misses.
Tszyu marches him down, stalking.
Velazquez bobs and weaves, but Tszyu is too watchful to fall into that trap.
The pair both land a shot each.
Good jabbing from Tszyu to keep Velazquez away.
14h agoWed 17 Dec 2025 at 12:02pm
Tszyu vs Velazquez, Round 9
Velazquez comes out with a double left.
Tszyu is dominating the space and calculatingly closing off the ring.
Velazquez can, and will run, but he’s running out of space.
There was so urgency in the Tszyu corner at the round, perhaps demanding a knock out.
Good two-punch combo from Tszyu, but Velazquez hits back with an upper cut.
Velazquez is just in survival mode here.
Velazquez goes back, forcing Tszyu to chase, which he does methodically.
Double jab from Tszyu forces Velazquez back.
Good shot inside from Tszyu with a hook to the body.
Tszyu throws a jab up high.
Tszyu misses with a left hook and Velazquez comes back with a shot of his own.
Two body shots from Velazquez end the round.
14h agoWed 17 Dec 2025 at 11:58am
Tszyu vs Velazquez, Round 8
It’s a good job this ring is black, because there is going to be blood everywhere in a minute.
Velazquez is throwing out some defensive jabs to try and keep Tszyu away.
BUT TSZYU KNOCKS THE AMERICAN BACK WITH TWO BRUTAL RIGHTS TO THE FACE!
Velazquez with a good left! That’s good power from Velazquez.
Tszyu goes back to the jab.
And then gets a right hook in to the body.
Tszyu with another jab, that relentless, silent stalking from Tszyu that we know so well, starting to shine through as he marches down Velazquez.
Velazquez against the ropes, Tszyu lands to body and head with more power shots.
Velazquez throws out a shot to keep Tszyu away, but Tszyu will not be deterred.
14h agoWed 17 Dec 2025 at 11:53am
Tszyu vs Velazquez, Round 7
That cut is hideous. The doctor will have a look. It’s not going to be stopped because it’s a long way below the eye, but it’s gross.
(Getty Images)
Velazquez is on the back foot and Tszyu is going to look at that gaping wound on the face of Velazquez and target it like mad.
Good right from Tszyu.
Now a left hook to the head.
Tszyu is head hunting.
Velazquez looks for a two-punch combo but there’s nothing there.
At the moment, Tszyu is in control.
BIG SHOT FROM TSZYU WITH THE RIGHT!
AND ANOTHER!
The eye is weeping blood, the claret trickling down the side of the American’s face.
Tszyu flashes another jab. And another,.
Good two-punch combo from Tszyu but Velazquez responds with a counter overhand left that really does stop Tszyu momentarily. Velazquez has to throw more like that now, abandon any pretence that he’s still got a chance to outpoint his rival.
Lovely right from Tszyu ends the round!
14h agoWed 17 Dec 2025 at 11:52am
Tszyu vs Velazquez, Round 6
Rinse and repeat for Tim Tszyu, marching down his opponent and forcing him back.
GOOD RIGHT FROM TSZYU!
Velazquez looked a bit wobbly there.
Velazquez lands a good left hook there, Tszyu just needs to keep his focus here and not let the American find his range.
It’s still Tszyu who is controlling the distance.
Velazquez misses with an overhand right.
Tszyu lands a shot but Velazquez hits back with a hook of his own that just forces the Aussie back.
Upper cut from Tszyu.
They battle in close again until Tszyu gets another upper cut to get them apart.
Good shot from Tszyu, a thunderous right. And now a left that just misses.
Now Tszyu lands a big shot to end the round.
AND VELAZQUEZ IS CUT! BADLY!
Velazquez’ face is a mess, blood pouring from a massive cut under his eye.
Oh that is disgusting. A huge, open gash.
14h agoWed 17 Dec 2025 at 11:47am
Tszyu vs Velazquez, Round 5
(No Limit Boxing)
The cruel reality of top level boxing is hitting home for Velazquez it seems.
As you go up in level, the opposition gets a whole lot harder.
He has stepped up today, and has so far been found wanting.
He goes for a hook that lands, that’s a bit better for Velazquez.
Tszyu gets a solid hook to the head to land.
Another two two-punch combo from Tszyu!
Velazquez is up against the ropes!
BIG SHOTS FROM TSZYU!
That’s good from Tszyu, Velazquez is a bit wobbly there.
LOW BLOW FROM VELAZQUEZ! Tszyu is annoyed by that. Tszyu brushes off the referee though who called for time, and says lets get on with it! He wants to keep the momentum.
Another one-two series from Tszyu.
Velazquez has got nothing here. It’s dominant from Tszyu.
Two brutal body shots land from Tszyu.
Velazquez lands a couple of lefts to end the round, but he’s shown very little.
14h agoWed 17 Dec 2025 at 11:40am
Tszyu vs Velazquez, Round 4
“You can’t let him walk you down like that,” Velazquez’s corner say at the break.
He’s overawed by the occasion, this American.
It appears in any case.
Both men jab.
Velazquez has barely thrown a shot. I don’t know what he expects is going to happen here if he continues to run.
Tszyu lands a solid hook to the body – that’s a good shot from the Aussie.
More fast hands from Tim Tszyu.
Velazquez is a deer in the Tszyu gaze, the hunted laid bare by the hunter’s headlights in the whites of Tszyu’s eyes.
A half-hearted left hook from Velazquez, but Tszyu is in complete control.
Velazquez is running, Tszyu is hunting.
Velazquez lands a body shot! Good stuff from Velazquez there,.
But Tszyu is still in complete control with Velazquez on the ropes.
Velazquez is caught by an upper cut! AND A LEFT HOOK!
Velazquez’s eye is swelling up on the right eye.
14h agoWed 17 Dec 2025 at 11:36am
Tszyu vs Velazquez, Round 3
The Tszyu corner is giving its instructions. Very calm, but there’s a clear language barrier there.
Good body shots from Tszyu as they clinch centre ring.
Velazquez jabs a couple of times.
Tszyu still comes forward.
Tszyu jabs, comes forward, jabs, still marches forward, jabs again, both to the head to start then body.
Low shots to the body from Tszyu but legal says the referee.
Inside work from Tszyu, body shots.
(No Limit Boxing)
Velazquez lands a left hook after Tszyu is warned for pushing the head down.
THREE PUNCH COMBO FOR TSZYU! Good shots to the head.
Now he comes to the body.
Tszyu us looking for these shots – but Velazquez is just landing a couple of left hooks up high.
Velazquez hangs on as Tszyu tries to contort himself into the right position to land hard shots.
Two punch combo from Tszyu and those slapping sounds will hurt Velazquez!
Velazquez ends the round against the ropes.
14h agoWed 17 Dec 2025 at 11:32am
Tszyu vs Velazquez, Round 2
Velazquez takes the centre ring.
Both men jab, Tszyu high, Velazquez low.
GOOD RIGHT FROM TSZYU!
Tszyu throws out a couple of shots that miss making any real impression.
Velazquez lands with a jab, but Tszyu is starting to assert himself.
Good jab to the body from Tszyu.
Another body jab from Tszyu.
Head jab from Tszyu now, just picking off these shots now.
Body jab from Tszyu.
Tszyu unloads the right now, good shot, good power.
Tszyu has that relentless look.
Velazquez lands a left hook, slapping down with the glove.
Nothing much from Velazquez that would concern the Tszyu camp.
Tszyu lands a right on the arm of Velazquez. And again.
Good jab from Tszyu lands.
Velazquez misses with a BIG right. He was biding his time for that. Had that landed, then a question would have been asked.
14h agoWed 17 Dec 2025 at 11:28am
Tszyu vs Velazquez, Round 1
Here we go, Tszyu jogs to the center of the ring, where he’s met by a Velazquez jab.
Velazquez jabs up and low, Tszyu darts out.
Both men look relaxed.
Tszyu backs away as Velazquez comes forward.
Velazquez looks very strong, Liam Paro in commentary has commented on how thick he is around the shoulders.
Tszyu has settled but then has to dart back as Velazquez throws out a jab.
Nothing really landing early.
Tszyu jabs low but then gets one through the guard to the head.
One-two from Tszyu, nice body shot then the overhand right to the head.
Another body shot from Tszyu.
Tszyu is looking confident and lands a body jab and follows with an overhand right.
Another jab up top. Then low from Tszyu.
Velazquez jabs low.
A tense opening round that Tszyu edges.
14h agoWed 17 Dec 2025 at 11:26amTim Tszyu vs Anthony Velazquez, tale of the tape
(No Limit Boxing)Tim Tszyu (AUS)
Record: 25-3 (18KOs)
Age: 31
Height: 174cm
Reach: 179cm
Weight: 70.82kg
Anthony Velazquez (USA)
Record: 18-0-1 (15KOs)
Age:29
Height: 178cm
Reach: 178cm
Weight: 71.04kg
14h agoWed 17 Dec 2025 at 11:26am
Big moment for Tim Tszyu’s career
Make or break time
– PhilTaylor3
14h agoWed 17 Dec 2025 at 11:26am
And here comes Tim Tszyu
He’s making the walk from his dressing room now.
A promotional video is playing, talking about how Tszyu flew too close to the sun but now he’s emerging from the ashes, a phoenix, unbreakable.
“This is the rise of the phoenix,” the video concludes.
Tszyu is walking, head down, uncle’s hand in the nook of his arm as he walks.
Tszyu looks more confident than he did in his last outing, steely, focussed.
He lets out a wry smile as he has his gloves checked, his black robe and gold trim flowing around him.
14h agoWed 17 Dec 2025 at 11:23am
I hate predictions…
Got a prediction Simon?
– Phillip
But I think Tim Tszyu has to win this.
This American is relatively untested against elite fighters.
But is Tszyu an elite fighter any more?
We’re about to find out.
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