A top American boxing promoter says there is a path back to relevancy in the US for Aussie fighter Tim Tszyu, but that will go up in smoke if he loses to Errol Spence Jr on Sunday.
The 31-year-old Sydneysider will take on Spence at AfterPay Arena – formerly Qudos Bank Arena – at Sydney Olympic Park in a bout Lou DiBella believes will effectively end the career of one boxer.
Sebastian Fundora lands a punch on Australia’s Tim Tszyu during their second Las Vegas fight. AP
Tszyu was on his way to conquering the super welterweight division and took an unblemished fight record into his March 2024 bout with towering southpaw Sebastian Fundora in Las Vegas.
With the WBC and WBO straps on the line, the Aussie looked like winning that fight until his head was cut open by Fundora’s elbow, ruining his vision and handing advantage to the lanky American who ended up winning via the judges’ scorecards. Tszyu’s team was roundly blamed for allowing their fighter to continue while blood was streaming into his eyes.
Tszyu has fought twice in the states since then; he was badly beaten by Bakhram Murtazaliev in October 2024, and lost to Fundora again – this time fair and square – in July 2025 in his return to Sin City.
He was forced back to Australia with his tail between his legs and many fight fans feared Tszyu was finished in the American market.
He’s won three times in Australia since that first loss to Fundora, but the aura that saw him headlining cards under the bright lights of Las Vegas has faded.
DiBella – who was one of America’s top boxing promoters but now focuses more on baseball, where he owns minor league teams – believes American fight fans could have an appetite for Tszyu again if he beats Spence on Sunday.
“I don’t think they’ve washed their hands of him,” DiBella told nine.com.au.
“Tszyu certainly gives an effort every fight, he’s certainly not boring.
“People at least know his name. They know his father’s name (Kostya) and they know his name, and knowing your name in the world of boxing right now is a big deal, frankly.
“It’s sort of a shitshow of a sport at the moment and if you have name recognition you have something going for you. And because of the fact he hasn’t fought boring fights, people do know Tim’s name.
“If he goes out there and beats another guy whose name people know – Errol Spence – people will know his name. At one point (Spence) was considered one of the best fighters in the world.
Tim Tszyu suffered a nasty gash to his head during his March 2024 fight with Sebastian Fundora. nna\smirzabegian
“Right now both of them are in a situation where they are giving each other an opportunity.
“Who emerges the guy who’s cleaned up his career? Because certainly the other guy is done.”
Spence hasn’t fought since losing all his welterweight belts to Terence Crawford three years ago. It’s the only loss on his 29-fight record.
DiBella says both Spence and Tszyu are effectively fighting to save their careers.
“If Spence beats Tszyu, as far as I’m concerned Tim is done. If Tszyu beats Spence, Errol Spence is done,” he said.
But will anyone in the States be tuning in to watch the Sydney fight?
DiBella believes interest in the sport has waned in general among American sports fans, but says boxing purists will be keeping an eye on the result on Sunday.
“I’m interested in the fight, but I’m a boxing insider. At least I was,” he said.
“I actually find the fight interesting, because I don’t even think Errol Spence should be fighting. In truth I don’t think he’s been the same since the (2019) car accident, and Crawford annihilated him.
“I think it’s a good fight, I think Tim actually has a good opportunity here because there is a fighter (in Spence) who has a big cache in America here. Even if people aren’t paying attention to the fight to watch it, they are going to pay attention to the result, they will probably see the result on social media.
“If I’m correct and Tim still has more in the tank than Spence does, and Tim is able to pull off victory… I expect Tim to win. I think it’s a pass back to him getting some more relevancy in the division.
“Can he still stick with the top of the division? I don’t know that this fight is telling us that, I don’t think at the moment Tim nor Spence are top of the division. But certainly a competitive fight on paper, it will be a wonderful opportunity for Tim to re-establish his name if he can beat Spence.
“I think it may be a chance he can do that because I think Spence is damaged goods, I think he has been for a while.
Errol Spence Jr and Tim Tszyu pose with No Limit Boxing boss George Rose in Sydney. No Limit
“No I don’t think it’s a star-making fight in the States, I don’t think most people are paying attention… It’s a big opportunity for either – a lot of people in the States will be predicting Tszyu (wins) simply because they think Errol has so little left in the tank. But it’s an opportunity for both guys, I think it’s a fair fight. I’m interested in it.”
Tszyu (27-3-0) has made several changes since his American humiliation, dumping two coaches since September and now working with Aussie legend Jeff Fenech, who was highly critical of Tszyu’s camp after the first Fundora loss.
In a YouTube documentary, Tszyu revealed he considered quitting the sport as his career hit a slump earlier this year.
He is currently ranked fifth with the WBC in the super welterweight division.