Quick Read
- Tim Tszyu defeated Anthony Velazquez by unanimous decision (100-90, 100-90, 100-91) in Sydney.
- Tszyu’s win marks his first under new trainer Pedro Diaz after losing three of his previous four fights.
- Velazquez suffered his first career loss but showed resilience, never being knocked down.
- Tszyu’s measured approach and technical adjustments suggest a new direction in his career.
- Sam Goodman also returned to winning ways on the undercard, beating Tyler Blizzard.
Tim Tszyu Returns with Statement Win Over Anthony Velazquez
There are nights in boxing when the result is less about drama and more about a fighter reclaiming his footing. Wednesday morning in Sydney, Tim Tszyu delivered one of those performances, outclassing Anthony Velazquez across all ten rounds at the TikTok Entertainment Centre. The unanimous decision—100-90, 100-90, 100-91—was as one-sided as the numbers suggest, but the story beneath those digits is one of calculated risk, a changing style, and a fighter determined to prove he still belongs among boxing’s elite.
Tszyu’s Comeback: New Trainer, New Approach
Coming into the bout, Tszyu (26-3, 18 KOs) was searching for a lifeline. Having lost three of his last four fights, including a split-decision upset to Sebastian Fundora in a 2024 unification showdown and subsequent defeats to Bakhram Murtazaliev and Fundora again, the Australian’s career had reached a crossroads. The split from longtime trainer Igor Goloubev and his move to Pedro Diaz’s Miami camp signaled not just a geographical shift, but a philosophical one.
This fight was Diaz’s first in Tszyu’s corner, and it showed. Tszyu was notably patient, working behind a persistent jab, and avoided the reckless aggression that had sometimes cost him in the past. “I just wanted to feel comfortable in there,” Tszyu reflected after the fight, as reported by Yahoo Sports. “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.”
Round-by-Round: Tszyu in Complete Control
From the opening bell, Tszyu established his authority. He landed crisp combinations and powerful rights that reddened Velazquez’s face early, then began to work the body with surgical precision. Velazquez, entering the fight unbeaten (18-0-1, 15 KOs), was fighting outside the United States for the first time and quickly found himself overwhelmed by Tszyu’s pace and ring IQ.
Velazquez’s resilience was on display, particularly in Round 6 when a sharp Tszyu right hand opened a nasty cut below his left eye. The ringside doctor checked the damage before Round 7, but allowed the American to continue. Each round followed a similar script: Tszyu pressed forward, Velazquez retreated with a high guard, and the Australian outlanded him by wide margins. Still, Velazquez refused to go down, absorbing punishment and staying upright until the final bell.
The judges’ scorecards reflected this dominance, with only one judge awarding Velazquez a single round. As Bad Left Hook noted, “Tszyu probably didn’t truly impress a lot of people with the win,” but sometimes the point isn’t dazzling—it’s restoring confidence and proving the fundamentals are intact.
What Does This Win Mean for Tszyu’s Future?
Fighting at a catchweight above super welterweight but below middleweight—a common arrangement for non-title bouts—Tszyu’s measured performance didn’t answer every question about his future. Critics and fans alike will continue to scrutinize his partnership with Pedro Diaz, wondering if the Aussie can adapt his style away from brawling and toward a more technical, championship-caliber approach. This fight showed flashes of that, but also suggested more time is needed for the new team to gel.
Velazquez, meanwhile, drops to 18-1-1 (15 KOs), suffering his first professional loss. He never came close to winning, but his toughness and refusal to wilt under sustained fire earned him respect. The American’s hesitancy to let his hands go, combined with Tszyu’s relentless pressure, made the outcome inevitable.
For Tszyu, the win reopens doors. With his record now at 26-3, he remains a factor in the super welterweight mix, but the questions remain: Can he reclaim a world title? Is he truly evolving under Diaz, or was this merely a tune-up against a game but overmatched opponent?
Undercard Highlights: Goodman and Others Shine
The co-feature saw Sam Goodman (21-1, 8 KOs) return to form, outpointing Tyler Blizzard (10-1, 4 KOs) by unanimous decision (100-90, 99-91, 100-90) in a competitive featherweight bout. Goodman, rebounding from an August loss to WBA featherweight champion Nick Ball, relied heavily on body shots, especially in the final rounds, to break Blizzard’s resistance. The wide scorecards belied the back-and-forth nature of the fight, but Goodman’s activity and power punching made the difference.
Elsewhere on the card, Callum Peters scored a sixth-round TKO over Cody Beekin in middleweight action, Koen Mazoudier edged Dominic Molinaro via split decision, and Paulo Aokuso won a lopsided unanimous decision against Shukhrat Abdullaev in the light heavyweight division.
The Final Bell: Tszyu’s Path Forward
As chants of “Tszyu” echoed through the Sydney arena in the final round, it was clear the crowd saw this as more than just another win. For Tszyu, it was a reclamation—of his confidence, his style, and perhaps his place in the sport’s hierarchy. Yet, the cautious approach and lack of a finish raised questions about his ceiling. Is this the start of a renaissance under Pedro Diaz, or a temporary reprieve before facing tougher opposition?
Boxing is a sport of comebacks, but also of hard truths. Tszyu did what he needed to do: dominate, avoid unnecessary risk, and reset his trajectory. What comes next will require more than just a win—it will demand proof that he can adapt, evolve, and reclaim his spot among the world’s best.
Tszyu’s victory over Velazquez was exactly what his career needed—a clear, controlled performance that banished doubts after a rough stretch. But if Tszyu wants to contend for world titles again, he’ll need to show more than just dominance over an outmatched opponent. The next chapter, under Pedro Diaz’s guidance, will reveal whether this measured approach can deliver when the stakes—and the opposition—rise.