At Thursday’s final press conference before his return against Denis Nurja, Tszyu addressed the talk of his rematch with Sebastian Fundora last year, where he was repeatedly injured and picked apart at crucial times.
“They think that’s my kryptonite,” Tszyu said, referring to the left hook and the way he was caught in his previous fight. “I just want to point that out. I’m very aware of that.”
Tszyu’s admission that he knows the “kryptonite” (the left hook) is coming is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, awareness is the first step to a solution. On the other hand, if the issue is reaction time or push resistance rather than just a technical “tell”, no amount of knowledge will help him when a world-class athlete like Nurja lets it fly.
“I feel like I fell apart,” he said. “I’m putting the wheels in motion again, and I’m coming, and I’m shooting right back to that #1 spot.”
Tszyu made it clear he wasn’t interested in rebuilding slowly or protecting himself after a rough night. He sees the sport as short-term and unforgiving, leaving little room for slow recovery from defeat. He already had a confidence booster in his last fight against the unknown Anthony Velazquez.
“We’re in this sport for a short, minimal time, and you just have to make the most of every opportunity,” he said.
Nurja, for his part, kept his focus now. He spoke about preparation and the opportunity ahead, describing the fight as the payoff for years of work rather than engaging in any back-and-forth over tactics or perceived weaknesses.
“The win will be a massive step in my career. 20 years of sacrifice,” Nurja said.
Looking at Tim Tszyu’s recent run, it’s easy to wonder if we’re seeing a fighter whose ceiling has been found or one whose body is worn out from that brutal first Fundora fight in 2024. There’s a very strong case that the first Fundora fight changed the trajectory of Tszyu’s career.
Fighting 10 rounds while essentially blinded by a massive scalp laceration is the stuff of legend, but it takes a permanent toll. In their July 2025 rematch, Tszyu did not look like the same ruthless “Soul Taker”. For the first time, we saw him pull himself out of a fight when he realized he couldn’t win.
Some analysts, such as Keith Thurman, have suggested that the trauma of the Bakhram Murtazaliev loss, where he was dropped four times, may have broken something in his willingness to “die on his shield”.
Tszyu faces Denis Nurja this Saturday, April 4, at the top of a five-fight PBC Championship Boxing card streamed live Prime Video starting at 9pm ET / 6pm PT.
