Tim Tszyu is back under the lights this Easter Sunday in Wollongong, with an unbeaten wildcard standing between him and a looming mega-fight.
The former world champ faces undefeated Albanian Denis Nurja in what shapes as a risky tune-up before a likely blockbuster date with American superstar Errol Spence Jr later this year.
Tszyu vs Nurja | Sunday 5 April from 11am AEST | Tim Tszyu looks to continue his boxing resurgence as he takes on Albanian Denis Nurja. | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.
Tszyu (26-3, 18 KOs) knows there’s no room for complacency. Nurja (20-0) may be lightly known to boxing fans, but he carries a perfect record and world ranking – so the Sydneysider will not be taking him lightly.
Coming off a decision win over Anthony Velazquez in August, Tszyu has endured a bumpy couple of years and is now looking to rebuild and prove he remains a genuine world-class threat.
It won’t be the first time Tim Tszyu has fought on Easter Sunday, with his bloody war against Sebastian Fundora in 2024 also taking place on the holiday.
Sunday’s stacked card also features the likes of Sam Goodman, Callum Peters, Paulo Aokuso and Nelson Asofa-Solomona.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Tszyu–Nurja fight, including the date, start time, full fight card and how to watch.
WHEN IS TIM TSZYU vs DENIS NURJA?
Tim Tszyu vs. Denis Nurja takes place on Sunday, April 5, 2026.
WHAT TIME DOES IT START?
The main card starts at 12:00 PM AEST. The main event ring walk is expected shortly after, roughly 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM AEST.
Coverage starts from 11:00 AM AEDT on Kayo Sports and Foxtel.
WHERE IS IT?
The fight will be staged at the the WIN Entertainment Centre in Wollongong, Australia.
FULL FIGHT CARD
Tim Tszyu vs Denis Nurja – 10 rounds (Middleweight)
Sam Goodman vs Rodrigo Ruiz – 12 rounds (Super bantamweight)
Nelson Asofa-Solomona vs Jarrod Wallace – 4 rounds (Heavyweight)
Callum Peters vs Delio Mouzinho – 8 rounds (Middleweight)
Paulo Aokuso vs Kittipong Jian Hao Ho – 10 rounds (Light heavyweight)
PRELIMS
Charlie Kazzi vs Blair Geraghty – 10 rounds (Super lightweight)
Max Reeves vs Francis Waitai – 10 rounds (Super middleweight)
Dharringarra Trewhella vs Dominic Bailey – 5 rounds (Welterweight)
WHAT’S BEEN SAID?
Earlier in the week, Tszyu said he wanted to show the world why he deserves a shot at Errol Spence Jnr.
“Of course, it’s only natural, right?” he said.
“And being totally honest with you, I want to kill this guy.
“I want to f***ing annihilate him.
“But while I want that dog to come out in me, it has to be at the right time.
“That’s the key.
“It’s about me learning to control that dog in me.
“Ensuring it comes out at the right time.”
The Aussie also issued a warning – he knows Nurja has been reviewing his loss against Bakhram Murtazaliev, looking for an edge, and it won’t help.
“All of them watch them Bakhram fight,” he said at the press conference.
“I sleep with my right hand on my chin. I’m well aware that’s what they are thinking. Throwing the left hook. [They think] It’s my kryptonite.”
Nurja, for his part, said that while he has lots of respect for Tszyu, he is not here to make up the numbers.
“I’ve trained really hard, I have a lot of respect for him, but I’ve come here to win,” he said.
When asked about all the talk of Tszyu potentially fighting superstar Errol Spence next, Nurja was unfazed.
“I’m used to people talking, I don’t care what they say. We’ll see what happens on Sunday.
“The win would be a massive step in my career – it would be such a gift for me.”
WHO IS NAS FIGHTING?
Former NRL enforcer Nelson Asofa-Solomona is set to throw down with ex-footy prop Jarrod Wallace.
Long regarded as one of the most feared big men in Aussie sport, the Kiwi powerhouse signed with No Limit Boxing last year after sensationally walking away from the final season of his $800,000-a-year NRL contract with the Melbourne Storm.
Asofa-Solomona made an immediate impact on his boxing debut, flattening former rugby league cult hero Jeremy Latimore with a brutal first-round knockout — and he’s aiming to do the same this weekend.
Wallace, however, has been putting in the work in the gym and says he’s spotted more than a few gaps in the big man’s skillset. Expect fireworks.
BETTING ODDS (via TAB)
Tszyu is a big favourite, priced at around $1.14 to win.
Nurja is the clear outsider at roughly $5.50 as of Thursday.
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PREDICTIONS
Nick Walshaw: Tim Tszyu TKO R6
While his Errol Spence blockbuster may already be agreed, I’m tipping Tim Tszyu to go earn it in every sense this Sunday. Apart from being several levels above the undefeated, and undeniably gutsy Denis Nurja, Tszyu also now boasts noticeable changes under new coach Pedro Diaz.
Best case, this means Tszyu mixing the power and aggression of his first title run with the smarts needed for a second. As a result, we’ll have a crack at the $8.25 being offered by Sportsbet for a finish in the sixth.
James Cooney: Tim Tszyu TKO R5
I don’t see Nurja posing too much danger. After a couple of rounds, Tszyu should start to turn the heat up and get him out of there.
Tszyu has looked happy and relaxed all week and I’m expecting the sharpest version of him we’ve seen in a long time.