{"id":354590,"date":"2025-12-17T20:15:11","date_gmt":"2025-12-17T20:15:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/354590\/"},"modified":"2025-12-17T20:15:11","modified_gmt":"2025-12-17T20:15:11","slug":"tim-tszyu-beats-anthony-velazquez-calls-out-wbo-super-welterweight-champ-xander-zayas-nrl-vegas-fight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/354590\/","title":{"rendered":"Tim Tszyu beats Anthony Velazquez, calls out WBO super welterweight champ Xander Zayas, NRL Vegas fight"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tim Tszyu has confirmed himself ready to be catapulted straight into a world title blockbuster <\/a>against WBO super welterweight champ Xander Zayas, saying: \u201cI\u2019ve just beaten one Puerto Rican, let\u2019s go for the main one\u201d.<\/p>\n

The declaration comes as Tszyu also announced himself willing to turn around in just 10 weeks\u2019 time to headline a potential No Limit fight card on the same weekend as the NRL season launch in Las Vegas.<\/p>\n

Despite dropping three consecutive world title fights against Sebastian Fundora and Bakhram Murtazaliev, Tszyu is suddenly again in the mix for gold after earning a comprehensive decision win against previously unbeaten American puncher Anthony Velazquez.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Ring V: Inoue vs Picasso | Saturday 27 Dec from 8pm AEDT | Undisputed super bantamweight champion Naoya \u2018The Monster\u2019 Inoue puts his titles on the line against Mexico\u2019s Alan Picasso, in Riyadh. | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports<\/a>.<\/p>\n

REPORT: Tim Tszyu puts on \u2018violent clinic\u2019 in hyped comeback to leave US star \u2018broken\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2018YOU WON\u2019T SURVIVE\u2019: Arch-rival exposes brutal Tszyu \u2018truth\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n

Fighting inside the TikTok Entertainment Centre, Tszyu secured a shutout on two of three judges\u2019 scorecards \u2013 with his only blemish coming when one ringside official scored the ninth 10-each.<\/p>\n

But as for finding relief in victory?<\/p>\n

\u201cNah,\u201d Tszyu shrugged, \u201cI still want to get back to where I want to be. Back with the big boys.\u201d<\/p>\n

Which explains why immediately after the fight, Tszyu confirmed there were already discussions underway about him facing the winner of a January showdown between WBO champ Xander Zayas and his WBA counterpart, Abass Baraou. <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd you know me,\u201d Tszyu grinned when asked about potentially going straight into that challenge, \u201cI\u2019ve always shot for the stars.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe boys were mentioning Xander Zayas and I was like \u2018yeah, oath\u2019.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m ready to go now.<\/p>\n

\u201cGive me Xander Zayas now.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s go.\u201d<\/p>\n

While Tszyu never officially finished Velazquez on Wednesday night, the former world champ came close on several occasions, while also leaving the son of Puerto Rican parents with an ugly cut under his left eye.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo I\u2019ve just beaten one Puerto Rican,\u201d he grinned, \u201clet\u2019s go for the main one\u201d.<\/p>\n

No Limit promoter George Rose agreed, saying of Tszyu\u2019s chances against either Zayas or Baraou: \u201cI think he\u2019s ready for anyone.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf that\u2019s the fight he wants, that\u2019s the fight we\u2019ll work towards.<\/p>\n

“It’s a worse Tim!” – Zerafa slams Tszyu | 03:33<\/p>\n

\u201cThat is one thing we always do, whatever he wants we make it happen. He shoots for the stars and we take him there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Elsewhere, Tszyu also confirmed himself in the mix to headline on the same weekend as NRL Las Vegas.<\/p>\n

\u201cPossibly, yeah,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ve just heard little rumours.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen is it? End of February?<\/p>\n

\u201cThat sounds about right for me. I want to stay active this year.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut whatever, man.\u201d<\/p>\n

Asked how quickly he wants to get back to Miami, and more work with new coach Pedro Diaz, Tszyu grinned: \u201cMan, I just spent 10 weeks there.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I\u2019ve only had one week at home. Maybe a week or two with my wife would be nice.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen I\u2019ll go after that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Speaking about how differently he had fought under new coach Diaz, Tszyu also suggested his performance had been more patient and measured.<\/p>\n

\u201c[Previously] I\u2019m always trying to get the kayo,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd unfortunately, sometimes when you try too hard, you tense up.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou make mistakes.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I\u2019ve paid for that. I\u2019ve learned my lesson.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo I feel like now if the knockout comes, it comes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tszyu also hailed the toughness of Velazquez.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy opponent was game, man,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd was always loading up with a counter.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd his counters, they were big ones.<\/p>\n

Goodman v Blizzard: Fight Highlights | 05:46<\/p>\n

\u201cThey weren\u2019t little touches. They were a Deontay Wilder windmill.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut he also sort of went into survival mode.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s supposed to be a come forward fighter, which he did at the beginning, but once he felt the presence and the distance \u2013 exactly what I\u2019ve been working on \u2013 he went back.\u201d<\/p>\n

Elsewhere, Tszyu said he had no issue communicating with Diaz between rounds, despite his new head coach seemingly speaking little English.<\/p>\n

\u201cEverything is tactical,\u201d he said of their chatter in the corner. \u201cEverything is codes, every punch is a number.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe communicate in the language of boxing.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s got Russian fighters who speak no English, and they communicate in the language of boxing.<\/p>\n

\u201cGoing to him has made me fall in love with the sport again.<\/p>\n

\u201cCubans used to fight for nothing.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd that passion and love, it\u2019s inspiring me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Soon after, Tszyu continued: \u201cI\u2019d been with my previous guys my whole life.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo it wasn\u2019t a small change. It was big.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom my hand wraps, my warm up, the time I get backstage, my press conferences, the people picking me, it\u2019s all been different.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut first time we\u2019ve also been successful.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe partnership worked.\u201d<\/p>\n

Earlier this year, Tszyu went straight from one strong win over Joey Spencer into a world title rematch with Fundora, and despite having dropped two world titles before that April victory.<\/p>\n

Asked what would be different this time around, he said: \u201cJust do it for myself.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd have the people around me that understand that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tszyu v Zerafa face-off HEATS UP | 01:42<\/p>\n

Elsewhere, Tszyu said: \u201cIn boxing you can\u2019t make too many mistakes.<\/p>\n

\u201cSame as you can\u2019t keep making them.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have to find a solution.<\/p>\n

\u201cI dedicate my whole life to this sport, man.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou guys just see glimpses.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I miss a lot of family moments, weddings, different events that are supposed to happen in your life.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I\u2019m solely focused on this career, so I put everything else aside.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome people see it.<\/p>\n

\u201cA lot don\u2019t.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut with an obsessive mindset and a relentless drive, this is what it takes to get back to the top.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Tim Tszyu has confirmed himself ready to be catapulted straight into a world title blockbuster against WBO super…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":354591,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[568],"tags":[2095,187511,64,63,689,2791,52494,168127,194447,2755,11862,2105,194446,194444,5330,194441,2623,12412,2184,5140,11850,194450,761,762,2627,673,2782,11876,2041,2067,158,677,140787,194445,6177,194448,55081,194449,85,2773,670,194443,2614,3722,2836,194442],"class_list":["post-354590","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nrl","tag-america","tag-anthony-velazquez","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-australia-and-new-zealand","tag-central-america","tag-consecutive-world-title","tag-family-moments","tag-finding-relief","tag-florida","tag-george-rose","tag-getty-images-inc","tag-goodman-v","tag-hand-wraps","tag-head-coach","tag-issue-communicating","tag-las-vegas","tag-matt-king","tag-mexico","tag-miami","tag-michael-zerafa","tag-naoya","tag-national-rugby-league","tag-nationalrugbyleague","tag-nevada","tag-new-south-wales","tag-nick-walshaw","tag-nikita-tszyu","tag-north-america","tag-northern-america","tag-nrl","tag-oceania","tag-pedro-diaz","tag-people-picking","tag-press-conferences","tag-rumours-swirl","tag-sam-goodman","tag-season-launch","tag-sports","tag-super-welterweight-champ","tag-sydney","tag-unbeaten-american-puncher","tag-united-states-of-america","tag-world-champ","tag-world-title","tag-world-title-blockbuster"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/354590","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=354590"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/354590\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/354591"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=354590"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=354590"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=354590"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}