Tim Tszyu can head into 2026 in search of more big fights after returning to winning ways in his comeback bout.
The former WBO super welterweight champion dominated Anthony Velazquez for a near-shutout unanimous decision win (100-90, 100-90, 100-91) Wednesday morning at the TikTok Entertainment Centre in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
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Tszyu (26-3, 18 KOs) had lost three out of his past four fights prior to Wednesday. The Australian lost a split decision upset to Sebastian Fundora in a 2024 unification bout. He has fought two more world title fights since, failing short to Bakhram Murtazaliev and Fundora in a rematch — both inside the distance.
After his rematch defeat to Fundora this past July, Tszyu parted with longtime trainer Igor Goloubev and joined Pedro Diaz’s camp in Miami. Tszyu dropped down a couple of levels for Wednesday’s fight against the untested Velasquez. Although Velazquez (18-1-1, 15 KOs) was evidently outmatched, he proved to be durable.
Tszyu troubled Velazquez multiple times in their 10-round contest but Velazquez never touched the canvas once, nor was he overly close to being stopped. Velazquez took punishment from Tszyu round after round and refused to wilt even when a significant cut opened below his left eye in Round 6 courtesy of a Tszyu right hand.
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Velazquez was hesitant to let his hands go, spending much of the rounds on the back foot with a tight guard, allowing Tszyu to outland him comprehensively over the distance. Tszyu inflicted a beat down on Velazquez for eight rounds but slowed down in the final two frames, clearly content with a decision win and the knowledge that his career was firmly back on the line.
“I’m back, I’m f***ing back,” Tszyu said afterward. “I just wanted to feel comfortable in there. I wanted to get in the ring, not try go for the KO and get reckless. I wanted to take my time and use my jab. I have all the skills in the world, I just need to apply them.
In the night’s co-feature, Sam Goodman (21-1, 8 KOs) defeated Tyler Blizzard (10-1, 4 KOs) by unanimous decision (100-90, 99-91, 100-90) in a 10-round featherweight fight. It was Goodman’s first contest since losing a decision to Nick Ball in an entertaining affair for the WBA featherweight title this past August in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Check out full Tszyu vs. Velazquez results and highlights below, as well as Uncrowned’s play-by-play of the main card.
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Fight Card
Middleweight: Tim Tszyu def. Anthony Velazquez via unanimous decision (100-90, 100-91, 100-90)
Featherweight: Sam Goodman def. Tyler Blizzard via unanimous decision (100-90, 99-91, 100-90)
Middleweight: Callum Peters def. Cody Beekin via sixth-round TKO
Super Welterweight: Koen Mazoudier def. Dominic Molinaro via split decision (98-92, 97-93, 94-96)
Light Heavyweight: Paulo Aokuso def. Shukhrat Abdullaev via unanimous decision (60-54, 60-54, 59-55)
Live coverage is over41 updates
Darshan Desai
Tim Tszyu defeats Anthony Velazquez by a shutout unanimous decision (100-90, 100-90, 100-91) in Sydney, Australia.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – DECEMBER 16: Tim Tszyu weighs in during the weigh in at Tik Tok Theatre on December 16, 2025 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
(Matt King via Getty Images)
Darshan Desai
Pause in the action 0:24 into Round 10 as the tape in Tszyu’s glove becomes loose. Chants of “Tszyu” ring around the arena. Velazquez is swinging with rights like he’s got a baseball bat, but none of them are worrying Tszyu. Tszyu isn’t pouring on the pressure anymore. He is happy to just get the nod on the cards. In fact, it is Velázquez who is trying to land something in the final stages. Tszyu walks the American onto a left hook counter as the announcer tells the arena that there is just one minute left in this one. Quiet final minute and Tszyu will be the winner here.
10-9 Tszyu, 100-90 Tszyu.
Darshan Desai
Six minutes to go. Velázquez is offering a little more now. He’s not being driven back as easily as he’s been these last few rounds. The American is moving laterally and jabbing at Tszyu. Uppercut counter as Tsyzu tried to break the gap. Left hook on the inside scores for Tszyu. This has been by far the Aussies’ least active round. He seems happy to just coast to a decision win now as well.
10-9 Tszyu, 90-81 Tszyu
Darshan Desai
Better opening to Round 8 for Velazquez, who offers a bit of resistance. One-two from Tszyu HURTS the American, and Tszyu looks to follow up, but Velazquez shows tremendous heart in response. Another overhand right gets through. Velazquez is surviving and moving now. Tszyu might be forced to go the distance in this one.
10-9 Tszyu, 80-72 Tszyu
Darshan Desai
The ringside doctor checked Velazquez’s cut to begin Round 7 and decided the American could continue. 6 rounds of dominance from Tszyu, can he add the icing on the cake with a finish? Tszyu forces Velazquez around the ring with straight punches. The American is ROCKED as Tszyu finds a home for another chomping right. This is so easy for Tszyu now. He is catching him with everything he throws. Overhand right connects, but no response from Velazquez. Round after round, Velazquez is taking unnecessary punishment. He’s not going to win this.
10-9 Tszyu, 70-63 Tszyu
Darshan Desai
HUGE right from Tszyu to open Round 6 — but Velazquez is as tough as they come and he doesn’t show any signs of feeling it. Uppercut on the inside lands for Tszyu, followed by a body shot. Tszyu is getting more creative with his pressure now as he sees that Velazquez won’t be fazed easily. Power shots landing for Tszyu with a surge in the final 20 seconds. Another dominant frame for the Aussie, but Velazquez looks no closer to wilting. A huge cut underneath his left eye — caused by a crushing right hand — might be the finisher, though.
10-9 Tszyu, 60-54 Tszyu
Darshan Desai
Into Round 5, and Velazquez needs a breakthrough to halt Tszyu’s forward momentum. It’s been a better start for the American in Round 5. Nice flurry of shots from Tszyu. The left hook seemed to be an impactful one as Velazquez sought refuge on the ropes. Velazquez hits Tszyu below the belt — Tszyu chooses to carry on with the action rather than take a break. Good pressure from Tszyu in the final minute of Round 5.
10-9 Tszyu, 50-45 Tszyu
Darshan Desai
Lead hook connects for Tszyu to begin Round 4. Now a right hand from the former champ. Velazquez is taking some punishment and being dominated in Sydnet. Tszyu is dictating proceedings, forcing Velazquez back and keeping him covering up. The lack of response from Velazquez is worrying. Left hand knocked the sweat off the American. Tszyu unloads with a combination. This is one-sided. Uppercuts now smashing into Velazquez. Maybe the American’s corner should look at cutting his efforts short.
10-9 Tszyu, 40-36 Tszyu
Darshan Desai
Tszyu walks the American backward with left hands. Body shots connect just after the one-minute mark in the center of the ring. Strong combination fired from Tszyu at the end of the second minute was his best work of the fight, but Velazquez took it well. To the body goes the Aussie. Tszyu is increasing his work rate now. Right-hand, left hook gets through, and Velazquez is forced to seek cover on the ropes. Breakthrough for Tszyu early.
10-9 Tszyu, 30-27 Tszyu
Darshan Desai
It was a solid opener for Tszyu. Strong right hand crushes onto Velazquez’s face early. Velazquez’s face is reddened already, and now Tszyu will look to do the same downstairs. Tszyu is more aggressive and assertive in this frame. Velázquez isn’t doing much at the moment. Rights from Tszyu over the top. Velazquez swings with an overhand right to end Round 2 but Tszyu made him miss with ease.
10-9 Tszyu, 20-18 Tszyu
Darshan Desai
Here we go! Tszyu and Velazquez in Sydney, Australia. Tszyu’s first fight under Pedro Diaz. Velazquez fights like the taller man. Jabs from Tszyu early. Nice one-one-two from Tszyu just before the halfway point in the opener that had the crowd excited. Slow start to proceedings here. Neither men want to commit to power punches. But just as I say that, a one-two finds a home for Tszyu. Again, the right hand finds the target.
10-9 Tszyu
Darshan Desai
Tim Tszyu (25-3, 18 KOs), who has lost three out of his last four fights, hopes that a win under new coach Pedro Diaz will kickstart another world title charge. Standing in his way is the unbeaten American Anthony Velazquez (18-0-1, 15 KOs).
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – DECEMBER 16: Tim Tszyu faces off against Anthony Velazquez during the Tim Tszyu v Anthony Velazquez weigh in at Tik Tok Theatre on December 16, 2025 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
(Matt King via Getty Images)
Darshan Desai
Sam Goodman wins a comfortable unanimous decision (100-90, 99-91, 100-90) over Tyler Blizzard in the Tim Tszyu vs. Anthony Velazquez co-feature. The wide scorecards don’t reflect the competitiveness of this one.
Darshan Desai
Body shot from Goodman sees Blizzard bend at the knee in the first minute of the final round. Goodman pours on the pressure, while Blizzard is subdued. It does look like Blizzard might be hurt as more power shots hammer onto Blizzard. Strong finish from Goodman as we head into the final minute. Body shots have been so key for Goodman tonight, and they seem to finally be paying off.
10-9 Goodman, 97-93 Goodman
Darshan Desai
Two to go, and the feeling seems to be that this one could still go either way.
Nice surge of pressure and body punching late in the first minute from Goodman. Goodman’s corner believes they are dominating the action. Body shot counter fired from Blizzard. Right hand off an angle from Goodman forces Blizzard onto the ropes. The activity from Goodman has been better in this round than it has been for several frames. Blizzard starts to come back in it just after the halfway point with counters. Combinations from Goodman in the final minute will be eye-catching for the judges. Good comeback round for Goodman.
10-9 Goodman, 87-84 Goodman
Darshan Desai
A pair of right hands connect for Blizzard just after the one-minute mark. Short-range punching and pressure are effective for Goodman, while Blizzard finds responses downstairs as Goodman has him on the ropes. Right-hand counter connects for Blizzard. Goodman fires downstairs, but a check hook counter from Blizzard was the eye-catching connection. Nice work from Blizzard now at long range with counter punches. Good round for the underdog!
10-9 Blizzard, 77-75 Goodman
Wed, December 17, 2025 at 3:02 AM PST
Liam Paro, commentating for Fox Australia, believes this is a “very close fight.” Uncrowned’s scorecard has Goodman in a handy lead.
Blizzard opens Round 7 with a couple of punches to push Blizzard’s head back. Long right hands are the answer from Blizzard when Goodman looks to break the gap. Nice body shot just before the two-minute mark. Body shot connected for Goodman, followed by a flurry of shots. He thinks he’s got his man going here. The referee pauses the action for a low-blow, and it hands Blizzard some much-needed respite.
10-9 Blizzard, 68-65 Goodman
Darshan Desai
We are into the second half of proceedings. Goodman paws with his left hand, feinting and throwing, attempting to keep Blizzard busy and thinking. One-two from Goodman at the halfway point may have just hurt Blizzard. There was a noticeable leap back from Blizzard and onto the ropes when that shot connected. Goodman is forcing Blizzard back and landing with single power punches with the right hand. Blizzard gets off an occasional hook counter, but it’s not enough to stop Goodman from adding another ten points to his tally.
10-9 Goodman, 59-55 Goodman
Darshan Desai
The body work continues to be pivotal for Goodman as we enter the fifth frame. Both corner teams discussed Goodman’s consistent lefts and rights to both sides of Blizzard’s mid-section in between Rounds 4 and 5.
Goodman pushes Blizzard back momentarily with a straight left in the second minute of Round 5. The pressure has gone up a notch in this stanza. Blizzard continues to get off with the counters, but they are doing less to keep Goodman off, which forces Blizzard to throw more. Blizzard acknowledges that a body shot from Goodman was impactful in the final few seconds of the first half of this one.
10-9 Goodman, 49-46 Goodman
Darshan Desai
Right hand lands clean for Blizzard to open Round 3. Goodman continues to work, but the shots aren’t landing clean — a left to the body by Blizzard certainly did land, though. Nice pair of rights from Goodman as Blizzard finds himself with his back on the ropes. Goodman continues to press forward and gets off with a terrific body shot. Right hook counter goes Blizzard. Goodman begins to talk to his opponent as he continues to pile on the pressure. Lefts to the body are working a treat for the former title challenger.
10-9 Goodman, 29-28 Goodman