Tim Tszyu has delivered a defiant response to doubts over his future in the sport.
On Tuesday night at the Sydney Entertainment Centre, the Australian fighter bounced back from his world title defeat by Sebastian Fundora in July to seal a clinical points victory against undefeated American fighter Anthony Velazquez.
It was a must-win fight for the Australian, who came into the meeting having won just one of his last four fights, and while he couldn’t get the stoppage, the 31-year-old outclassed his opponent, putting on a boxing clinic.
After claiming victory, the Aussie was pressed on whether he had considered retiring, but delivered a blunt response.
‘I’m back. I’m f***ing back,’ he said after sealing victory.
‘I’ve got the belts in my mind’s eye, but one step at a time.
‘It’s a long ride. You never know where we can go.’
The proud Puerto Rican-American had been undefeated in his previous 18 professional bouts, winning 15 of them by knockout.
But while he was unable to land a 19th KO of his career, Tszyu proved in another league fighting at catchweight and at a more comfortable 70-plus kilograms for the first time.
The fight was stopped at the start of the seventh round after Tszyu opened up a brutal-looking cut on his opponent’s forehead.
Doctors stepped up to Velazquez’s corner and allowed him to continue and he gallantly bounced back, striking the Australian on multiple occasions.
But whenever the 29-year-old fighter attacked, Tszyu, a far more experienced fighter, dished up a response.
Tszyu had pressed on his opponent during the later rounds and looked as though he could have sealed a stoppage victory.
However, after a difficult year, the Aussie insisted he was simply looking to regain his confidence in the ring and wasn’t looking to pursue a knockout.
‘Boxing is a roller coaster of a ride, emotions up and down, but I’m very blessed to be in this position right now,’ Tszyu said.
‘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.’
He put his foot on the gas in the eighth round, landing a jab-hook combo that left Velazquez reeling before he backed himself up against the ropes.
While Velazquez struck back in the later rounds by landing a few body shots to his opponent, it was largely one-way traffic for Tszyu, who commanded the centre of the ring.
The fight would go the full 10 rounds, with Velazquez giving everything in the final exchange, swinging wildly to try and claim a last-ditch win.
But it was a total shutout by Tszyu, with the judges scoring the contest 100-90, 100-90, 100-91.
While Tszyu was happy with his performance, his long-standing rival Michael Zerafa issued a damning assessment of his performance.
‘I feel like old Tim is better. If you’re fighting like that, you’re not going back to the top,’ Zerafa said after the fight.
While Tszyu was happy with his performance, his long-standing rival Michael Zerafa (pictured) issued a damning assessment of his performance
Footy great Latrell Mitchell (pictured) was also seen ring side watching on the fight
Zerafa had been one of several notable faces in the audience, that included footy stars Wayne Bennett and Latrell Mitchell.
‘I don’t say that as a hater,’ Zerafa added, clarifying his comments.
‘There are killers in our division and doing that you won’t survive. I wanted him to come out and make a statement that Tim is back and build to a bigger fight.
‘I wasn’t impressed.’
Tszyu (24-0), his younger brother Nikita (11-0) and their Hall of Famer father Kostya (18-0) have never lost a professional fight in Australia.
The trio’s combined 53-0 ledger remains the stuff of legend.
The onus will be on Nikita next to maintain the proud family record when he squares off with mouthy Melburnian Michael Zerafa in a domestic blockbuster in Brisbane on January 16.
The pair engaged in a spicy face-off on Wednesday night, Zerafa letting Nikita know “he needs to be punished” as he looks to settle a long-running score with the Tszyu clan.
Zerafa will take on Nikita on January 16.