TIM Tszyu is gearing up for his first outing of this year after suffering two defeats on the bounce in 2024.
The 30-year-old was elevated to full WBO world super-welterweight champion before defending his strap with a unanimous decision victory over Brian Mendoza in 2023.
But then, after former world champion Keith Thurman was replaced by Sebastian Fundora on just 12 days’ notice, the Australian star entered a blockbuster unification last March.
In only the second round, though, Tszyu, 24-2 (17 KOs), was forced to fight through a nasty cut that opened on top of his head following an accidental elbow from Fundora.
And despite a gallant performance from ‘The Soul Taker,’ he ultimately suffered a split decision defeat before earning another title shot against Bakhram Murtazaliev.
That time, Tszyu found himself on the receiving end of a punishing three-round display from the IBF champion, capping off what proved to be a torrid year.
But now, the former world champion will return to Australia to take on American contender Joseph Spencer at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre.
Ahead of their encounter on April 6, Spencer, 19-1 (11 KOs), has amassed three victories since his seventh-round stoppage defeat to fearsome operator Jesus Ramos Jr in 2023.
While he is yet to beat anyone of note, the 24-year-old was nonetheless able to take Miguel Hernandez’s unbeaten record with a majority decision win in his last outing.
But still, with the world level experience being firmly in Tszyu’s favour, one would suspect that he is likely to return to the win column when the pair lock horns.
