SYDNEY, Australia – Tim Tszyu hailed the start of a “new chapter” after he weighed in for Wednesday’s 157lbs catchweight contest with Anthony Velazquez at the TikTok Entertainment Centre.
The 31 year old fights for the first time since recruiting the Cuban Pedro Diaz to be his new trainer to replace his uncle and long-term trainer Igor Goloubev, and since separating from Glenn Jennings and appointing Mike Altamura and Darcy Ellis to be his co-managers and Jeff Fenech to be his advisor.
When he did so Tszyu was responding to his third defeat in four fights and was said to be prioritising resting and recovering from that damaging run – a first career defeat by Sebastian Fundora, a stoppage defeat by Bakhram Murtazaliev, a victory over Joey Spencer and a second defeat, the second time via stoppage, by Fundora in their rematch.
He instead chose to fight for a third time in 2025 after insisting he had been rejuvenated by working under Diaz in Miami, and in the 29-year-old Velazquez confronts an undefeated opponent he will know he has no choice but to beat.
“This is a new chapter for me,” said the Australian, who weighed in at 156lbs 2oz. “I’m grateful for my old team and the run we had, but I’m just as grateful for this new beginning. I’ve gone through this camp with a new team, a new process and a different mindset, and I’m doing this for myself. That’s why I call it ‘the Phoenix’.
“Working with Pedro has been refreshing. His energy; his knowledge; the way he genuinely cares about his fighter; it feels like family. As for the noise and the headlines, that’s for you guys. I’ve stayed away from it all. I’m focused, calm and ready. Retiring at 31 is ridiculous. I’m an Aussie. We don’t quit. Tomorrow night, we’ll see everything I’ve learned.”
By the time Tszyu and Velazquez stepped on to the scales, the Australian welterweight Jason Fawcett had slapped his opponent Marco Romeo, and less than two days after the terrorist shooting that killed 16 people in nearby Bondi Beach, Wayne Telepe gestured shooting his fellow junior welterweight Ahmad Reda. BoxingScene understands that the Combat Sports Authority of New South Wales are content that Fawcett then being spoken to by promoters No Limit means that there is little reason why Fawcett-Romeo shouldn’t proceed. There was also no suggestion that Telepe was aware of the connotations of the gesture he made.
The 156lbs 10oz Velazquez, as has been consistent throughout the build-up to Wednesday’s fight, again had little to say, but his vocal promoter Hector Bermudez was critical of the circumstances surrounding what represents Velazquez’s biggest fight and test.
“From the very beginning, from the plane ride, from all the running around with the medicals and switching the weight, there’s been confusion,” he said. “We agreed on the weight. It was supposed to be 154, then all of a sudden it’s different. We agreed to everything. We came here to fight. That’s fine. We’re not complaining. We’re mentally strong, we’re in shape and we’re ready. We’re not here trying to get a decision.
“As for Pedro Diaz being in the corner, I don’t know. He hardly speaks English. I want confusion. I want it loud. I want it uncomfortable. That doesn’t bother us. Anthony works hard, he’s confident and he’s ready to fight.”
Full weigh-in results
Ten rounds, 157lbs catchweight
Tim Tszyu (156lbs 2oz) vs Anthony Velazquez (156lbs 10oz)
Ten rounds, featherweight
Sam Goodman (125lbs 13oz) vs Tyler Blizzard (125lbs 4oz)
Ten rounds, vacant Australian middleweight title
Callum Peters (159lbs 3oz) vs Cody Beekin (159lbs 6oz)
Ten rounds, Australian junior-middleweight title
Koen Mazoudier (153lbz 13oz) vs Dominic Molinaro (153 7oz)
Six rounds, light heavyweight
Paulo Aokuso (173lbs 14oz) vs Shukhrat Abdullaev (173lbs 1oz)
Ten rounds, Australian junior-welterweight title
Ahmad Reda (139lbs 5oz) vs Wayne Telepe (137lbs 12oz)
Ten rounds, welterweight
Jason Fawcett (146lbs 15oz) vs Marco Romeo (146lbs 13oz)
Four rounds, welterweight
Isaias Sette (153lbs 12oz) vs Kya Sparks (153lbs 5oz)
