Two of America’s top boxing analysts have questioned if Tim Tszyu has the psychology required to come back from having his “will broken” against Sebastian Fundora — insisting one more loss will see the Australian disappear from the sport forever.
The declaration comes as former world champions Paulie Malignaggi and Chris Algieri have also suggested Tszyu was tracking to become a king of multiple divisions before a run of “crazy” decisions dramatically changed his trajectory, perhaps forever.
Tszyu vs Velazquez | Wednesday 17 Dec from 7pm AEDT | Tim Tszyu looks for redemption as “The Phoenix” takes on undefeated American Velazquez in an attempt to reignite his career. | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.
Speaking on their popular BoxingScene podcast this week however, both men suggested Tszyu still has the ability, grit and “star power” required to return to the top of the sport — with many questions to be answered in his December 17 showdown against undefeated American Anthony Velasquez.
Following a horror two years that has seen him drop three world title blockbusters, Tszyu is now looking to make his hyped comeback under the tutelage of new Cuban coach, Pedro Diaz.
Already, Tszyu has praised the changes being made to his fight style, and physicality, with the fighter even considering a fulltime move to Miami, Florida, where Diaz is based.
However, Algieri says the 29-year-old’s biggest test will be proving he has recovered mentally from his most recent world title defeats, which includes having his “will broken” against Fundora in July — when the fighter retired on his stool after seven rounds.
It has also been little more than a year since Tszyu was brutally finished by IBF super welterweight champ Bakhram Murtazaliev, with the two thumpings separated by an April win against American Joey Spencer.
While Algeiri said Tszyu was still young enough, and strong enough, to make another run for the title, the bigger question would be what those two most recent world title losses have taken on him mentally.
“Because he’s had two really bad stoppage losses,” Algieri said.
“One of them was an absolute destruction by Murtazaliev, where he got concussed, didn’t even realise what had happened.
“Then against Fundora his will was broken, [and he] stayed in his corner between rounds.
“So more than anything, it’s psychological.
“[Tszyu needs to] get over that PTSD from getting beat by Murtazaliev in a way that I remember after the fight, him being like ‘I don’t even know what happened’.
“And then also getting broken — getting his will broken — in that Fundora fight.
“I saw that fight live, and Tim went for it in the round right before he got stopped, before he stayed in his corner.
Ring IV: Night of Champions | Sunday 23 Nov from 10am AEDT | Ring IV: Night of Champions takes Riyadh by storm, with WBC light heavyweight king David Benavidez facing Anthony Yarde. Also featured is a WBO welterweight tie between Brian Norman Jr. and Devin Haney. | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.
“He went for it with everything he had and it wasn’t enough.
“And he realised that.
“That can hurt you more than a Murtazaliev fight, getting caught or getting beat up.
“It’s going to come down to his psyche moving forward.
“And coming from someone who has done it, that’s going to be a hard road …”
Soon after, Algieri continued: “Anyone else would’ve got written off already.
“But it’s Tim Tszyu.
“He does have the star power. He does have the potential.
“I looked at him as probably a multiple division world champion.
“And it’s been real tough to see the route that he’s been taken.
“The decisions that were made leading up to today for Tim Tszyu, you have to be like ‘man, there were some crossroads where we just went the wrong way’.
“And in terms of where he’s at in his career now, he’s on the edge of a cliff.
“He takes another bad loss, he takes any kind of loss, he’s off the cliff and we’re never going to see him again.”
Elsewhere, Algieri also suggested Tszyu could have taken an easier comeback fight than Velazquez, who is undefeated in 19 fights.
“The only reason he has to fight someone respectable is because of his name,” the former WBO super lightweight champ continued.
“He could easily go off TV, get a couple of wins with completely nondescript guys that nobody gets to see.
“But it’s Tim Tszyu.
“And that speaks to the star power he has.
“And that’s why we’re talking about him right now.
“Credit to him for trying to rebuild and get back.
“I believe he’s changed team, is training with Pedro Diaz.
“And again, I saw a lot of potential in him.
“Can he get back to that? I’m really not sure.
“And I hate to say that because I really like Tim.
“But it’s a long road back.
“And this fight is just going to be one more step, getting away from that cliff.”
Malignaggi, meanwhile, suggested there were “a lot of questions to be asked about Tim Tszyu at this point”.
“A win is expected,” he said of Tszyu’s upcoming Sydney showdown.
“But you’re not sure if he can dominate.
“That’s one of the question marks.
“A win is expected and you’d like to see him dominate if there is an intent to keep moving forward, which I’m sure his team has.
“But as far as his fan base is concerned, they’re going to be curious. We as analysts are also going to be curious.
“Because this is a guy who is trying to build his way to a world title fight.
“So what are we going to see? Is he going to struggle?
“If Tim looks spectacular he can be back
“But can he look spectacular? That’s where we are at here.”
Elsewhere, Malignaggi also questioned several decisions made around Tszyu, including the now undeniable sliding doors moment that was taking on Fundora at the start of 2024 when fellow American Keith Thurman withdrew with injury.
“[Accepting] Fundora as a replacement for Thurman was crazy,” Malignaggi said.
“Credit to him for saying ‘yes’ because he’s a ballsy kid.
“But now it’s more important than ever to make the correct choices in terms of matchmaking.
“I don’t think you can rush this.
“That mistake was made by taking Fundora.
42-0! Tim sends warning ahead of return | 01:41
“And that’s why fighters don’t take those tough fights.
“You see how this guy [Tszyu] got written off so fast.
“You complain about how boxing doesn’t make fights, but you wrote this guy off already.
“And he did what you expect your favourite fighter to do.
“You say losses don’t matter, and so he took the Fundora fight instead of Thurman because losses don’t matter, right?
“And then he came back with Murtazaliev, and gets mowed through.
“Again, was that the smartest thing to do? To go through a monster like Murtazaliev who nobody else wants to deal with?
“And you’re going to go after him following a tough loss against Fundora?
“This is why now you’ve got to play it the correct way.
“And why fighters sometimes hedge on the side of safety.
“Which we hate to see, when they overdo it.
“But there is a balance where you have to play it.
“And I think Tszyu has earned the right to play it on the side of safety at this point.”
Later, Malinaggi added: “Tim has star power, is world class talent … but he’s not a spring chicken anymore.
“So you have one chance to make it right, to put him back in a position where he can be ‘in the room’ again.
“This is the first step”.
Algieri also suggested Tszyu was saying all the right things in the build to his comeback fight.
“Psychologically, he’s got the right head on,” he said.
“Tim speaks the way I want a champion to speak. Speaks the way I want fighters to speak.
“I think the kid is truly a warrior deep down.
“It’s in his blood, in his DNA
“I think his father being Kostya Tszyu, he has that.
“So I think he’ll get the win, look good doing it and then we’ll be talking about Tim Tszyu being in some big fights down the road.
Tim Tszyu ‘Rejuvenated & Refreshed’ | 01:35
“Maybe not right away.
“It might take time.
“But the way people seem to want to move around Tim — because he does have star power — it’s probably going to move a little faster than most.
“And I’m here for it.
“I like Tim’s style, I think he still has a lot to offer.
“But he has to get a win here, and he has to get it looking good.”