Tim Tszyu battled through a severe cut to secure a unanimous points victory over Denis Nurja in Wollongong. The Australian fighter endured a head clash in round three that opened a deep gash under his left eye, but he quickly rallied, dropping his opponent moments later.

The Grueling Bout

Cleared by the ringside doctor, Tszyu maintained control throughout the 10-round fight. Nurja resorted to excessive holding, earning repeated warnings from the referee and ultimately a point deduction. All three judges scored the contest 100-88 in Tszyu’s favor.

Commentator and former world champion Paulie Malignaggi noted that Tszyu never shifted out of second gear during his dominant performance.

Fenech’s Disapproval

Australian boxing legend Jeff Fenech expressed dissatisfaction, departing the venue before the eighth round. While acknowledging that Tszyu “got the job done,” Fenech remained unimpressed with the display. He declined to assess Tszyu’s chances against Errol Spence Jr., leaving that judgment to Tszyu’s team.

Fenech has voiced concerns over Tszyu’s recent setbacks, including losses to Sebastian Fundora and a stoppage by Bakhram Murtazaliev. He previously skipped Tszyu’s debut under new coach Pedro Diaz and questioned the timing of a potential Spence matchup.

Memories of Past Cuts

The laceration evoked memories of Tszyu’s bloody defeat to Fundora in March 2024, one of the sport’s most severe cuts in recent years.

Post-Fight Reflections

Tszyu praised Nurja’s resilience: “I expected that, I had him a couple of times but he didn’t drop. Respect to the Albanians, man, they are tough guys.”

“This time I won with a cut, so I can’t complain. This guy was tough, no excuses, but me and Errol Spence will be one hell of a fight, a banger. You know how I am, I don’t take a backward step. He wants to meet me out the front, bring it on. You know what they say, catch the big fish. Let’s go fishing.”

Tszyu enters a likely underdog role against the 36-year-old Spence, inactive since his 2023 stoppage loss to Terence Crawford. The win boosts Tszyu’s record to 27-3.

Undercard Highlight

On the undercard, ex-NRL player Nelson Asofa-Solomona knocked out fellow former footballer Jarrod Wallace in the third round. ‘Big Nas’ then challenged retired NRL forward George Burgess to a showdown, sparking a heated exchange in the ring.