- Tim Tszyu shutouts Denis Nurja 100-88 on all three scorecards in Wollongong to claim the WBO International Middleweight title.
- Tszyu dropped Nurja with a clean shot in round four in a dominant and controlled performance on Easter Saturday.
- A summer showdown with Errol Spence Jr. is the likely next step — Luke backs Tszyu on points in what would be a brilliant fight.
The Son of Kostya is Back — Properly Back
Right then. Tim Tszyu's comeback is no longer a question mark. On Easter Saturday in Wollongong — at the WIN Entertainment Centre, in front of his own people — the son of Kostya put on a clinic against the unbeaten Denis Nurja to the tune of 100-88 on all three scorecards. A shutout. Total, complete, convincing domination from the first bell to the last.
Make no mistake, Nurja came in unbeaten and with genuine credentials. Albanian fighters don't get the credit they deserve sometimes, but a 20-0 record doesn't happen by accident. Tszyu didn't care. He went to work methodically, found his range early, and by round four had dropped Nurja clean with a perfectly timed shot that told you everything you needed to know about the gap in class between these two men.
The Performance in Detail
What struck me most watching Tszyu against Nurja was the patience. He was measured, controlled, picking his shots carefully. The jab to set up the right hand was the consistent theme throughout all ten rounds — textbook professional boxing from a man who has clearly rebuilt his game with purpose.
The knockdown in round four was the moment the fight was effectively over. Nurja showed heart — he got up, he tried to stay in it — but once Tszyu had that scent, there was only going to be one outcome. The referee calling it 100-88 across the board tells you how one-sided this was once the dust settled. Tszyu claims the WBO International Middleweight title in the process, and looks every inch the legitimate contender.
Errol Spence Jr Next — A Proper Fight
The real story out of Wollongong is what comes next. Errol Spence Jr has been linked to a summer showdown with Tszyu — a proper main event on Prime Video that would pit two former world champions against each other in a genuine 50-50 battle at middleweight. Spence dropped down from welterweight after his career setbacks, and he looks refreshed and dangerous at 160.
If you know, you know — Tszyu vs Spence is the kind of fight that doesn't need a belt to generate buzz. Two legitimate names, two men with points to prove, both capable of ending it in any round. I'm genuinely excited. Tszyu's combination of pressure and power against Spence's southpaw brilliance — brilliant matchmaking if it happens. Back Tszyu on points if it goes twelve, but don't rule out a Spence KO win — the man is dangerous. Class fight either way.