Tim Tszyu traveled across the world for his latest camp, only to make the return home to Australia for his next start. But if what he says is true, it won’t be back where he started – and it will all have been worth it.
Tszyu was in Sydney on Wednesday for a media workout ahead of his April 5 bout against Denis Nurja at WIN Entertainment Centre in Wollongong, coming off eight weeks of work at Pedro Diaz’s Mundo Boxing gym in Miami. The apparent goal for fighter and coach: tear down the old Tszyu and build him back complete, leaving no stone unturned.
“This camp has been completely different because I’ve had to learn different things, different methods, game plans, technical stuff and tactical stuff,” said Tszyu, 26-3 (18 KOs). “Looking back on some of my old sparring, I was sometimes a sitting duck. I can see that now. I’ve seen the lessons, and it’s about improving and developing a new style. That’s why I took this fight. I believe in my skills, I know what I’m capable of and the world is in my hands, so I’m going to take it with both hands.”
The clear impetus behind the rebuild is Tszyu’s recent 1-3 streak, bookended by losses to Sebastian Fundora. The trouble began in March 2024, when an accidental elbow from Fundora unleashed a bloody torrent from Tszyu’s forehead in their junior middleweight unification, impeding Tszyu’s vision and complicating an already tricky fight against the angular 6ft 6ins slugger.
A fluke circumstance? It didn’t seem so when, nearly seven months later, Tszyu was stopped by Bakhram Murtazaliev in Orlando. After a get-right win over Joseph Spencer back home in Australia last July, Tszyu submitted to the ultimate test in a rematch with Fundora – and it couldn’t have gone more wrong. After he was dropped in the first round, Tszyu was progressively battered and, after the seventh, failed to answer the bell.
When Tszyu made the decision to change teams, the work with Diaz began.
“The boxing fundamentals,” Tszyu said. “It’s quite simple. It’s working the front hand, not trying to get hit, not trying to go for the scrap all the time, but also having that dog in you if you need it.
“I’ve shown, as they say, cojones all the time, and when it gets rough and dirty, I know when to bring it out. I know I’ve got that up my sleeve at all times. But do I need to expose it in Round 1 straight away? No, I don’t. It’s all about timing. When to expose the cojones, when to go deep and dirty. I’m still the same old Tim Tszyu, of course, but I feel like you need to keep learning.”
A 10-round decision win over Anthony Velasquez last December seemed a step in the right direction. Diaz was available for only a portion of that camp, but he and Tszyu had already begun making progress on unpacking the fighter’s new skills and style.
“[Velasquez] was a great fight for Tim,” Diaz said. “He was able to show new tools and prove that he is not just someone who goes into the ring to fight. He showed that he can box as well. He worked very well with his lead hand and he went 10 rounds at a very high level. Tactically, he showed the work we have been doing. He has grown a lot, and I think he still has exciting things to show the boxing world.”
Albania’s Nurja, 20-0 (9 KOs), is a step back up for Tsyzu – though still shy of the top tier at 154lbs. Rather than rushing back in, guns blazing – cojones fully exposed, so to speak – Tszyu is taking a more calculated, measured approach moving forward.
“I think he is doing a great job,” Diaz said. “I want to see the work from training come through in the fight, and for him to show the world that he still has a lot to offer in boxing. With good preparation, every opponent is dangerous. But we are confident in the work we have done.”
