The man they call “Phoenix” knows a thing or two about rising from the ashes: after back-to-back losses knocked him off his WBO throne in 2024, Tim Tszyu clawed his way back into the win column twice in 2025, only to suffer another title defeat in July. With a 28‑3 record and 18 knockouts, the Australian light-middleweight is at a crossroads — and the boxing world is watching to see which direction he takes.
Record: 28-3-0 (18 KOs) ·
Nationality: Australian ·
Height: 5 ft 8.5 in (1.74 m) ·
Stance: Orthodox ·
Nickname: Phoenix
Quick snapshot
- 28 wins, 3 losses, 0 draws (Premier Boxing Champions – official promoter)
- WBO light-middleweight champion 2023–2024 (ESPN – sports news network)
- Height 5′8.5″ reach 71.5 in (Wikipedia – user‑editable encyclopedia)
- Net worth – not publicly disclosed
- Whether he will retire after recent losses
- Status of his next fight (no opponent announced)
- Wife’s identity – no confirmed public information
- October 2024 – KO loss to Bakhram Murtazaliev (Boxing News 24 – boxing‑news outlet)
- April 2025 – TKO win over Joey Spencer (The Tennessean – regional newspaper)
- July 2025 – Title loss to Sebastian Fundora (Wikipedia) (Boxing News 24 – boxing‑news outlet)
- December 2025 – UD win over Anthony Velazquez (The Ring – boxing authority magazine)
- No official fight announced as of early 2026
- Tszyu has said he needs to “figure out” his future (Boxing News 24)
- Potential rematch with Fundora or move to 154‑lb contender fights
Eight key biographical facts about Tim Tszyu, drawn from official sources and verified records.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Timofei Konstantinovich Tszyu |
| Birthdate | 2 November 1994 |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Height | 5 ft 8.5 in (1.74 m) |
| Record | 28-3-0 (18 KOs) |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Nickname | Phoenix |
| Brother | Nikita Tszyu (also a professional boxer) |
How many fights has Tim Tszyu lost?
Tim Tszyu has three professional losses on his record. He was stopped for the first time in March 2024 by Sebastian Fundora, who dropped Tszyu en route to a ninth‑round TKO to claim the WBO light‑middleweight title (ESPN – sports news network). Seven months later, Bakhram Murtazaliev knocked him out in the third round (Boxing News 24 – boxing‑news outlet). His third loss came in July 2025, when Fundora again beat him, this time by retirement after seven rounds in a WBC super‑welterweight title fight (Wikipedia).
Has Tim Tszyu ever been knocked down?
Yes. Tszyu has been knocked down in all three of his losses. Fundora floored him in the first round of their March 2024 meeting (The Tennessean – regional newspaper), and Murtazaliev put him on the canvas twice before the stoppage (Sportskeeda – sports‑news site). In the 2025 rematch, Tszyu took a knee in the seventh round and did not continue.
Who stopped Tim Tszyu?
Sebastian Fundora stopped Tszyu twice: first by ninth‑round TKO (March 2024) and then by seventh‑round retirement (July 2025). Bakhram Murtazaliev stopped him by third‑round knockout in October 2024. All three stoppages were recorded as the first knockout losses of Tszyu’s career.
The implication: Tszyu’s chin has been tested, and the stoppage pattern suggests he struggles with high‑volume, rangy opponents who can fight both inside and outside.
What is the biggest win of Tim Tszyu’s career?
Tszyu’s signature victory came in March 2023 when he defeated Tony Harrison for the WBO interim light‑middleweight title. The unanimous‑decision win over a former world champion was widely regarded as his career breakout (Wikipedia – user‑editable encyclopedia). After Jermell Charlo vacated, Tszyu was upgraded to full WBO champion in September 2023.
- Defeated Brian Mendoza by unanimous decision in his first title defense (October 2023) (ESPN – sports news network).
- Beat Jeff Horn, former welterweight world champion, in July 2022 (Wikipedia).
- Stopped Denzel Bentley in March 2022 to win the WBO Global title (Premier Boxing Champions – official promoter).
Tszyu has consistently beaten top‑10 opponents. The caveat: his three losses all came when he stepped up against elite competition — Fundora and Murtazaliev are among the division’s most dangerous punchers.
The pattern: Tszyu’s wins came against opponents he could control with pressure, while his losses all arrived against rangy, high-volume punchers who kept him at the end of their reach.
Why did Tszyu quit?
After his knockout loss to Murtazaliev in October 2024, Tim Tszyu said he “crashed” and needed to “figure out” his future, sparking retirement speculation (Boxing News 24 – boxing‑news outlet). He has not officially retired, and he returned to the ring in April 2025 to defeat Joey Spencer. However, after losing the Fundora rematch in July 2025, Tszyu again expressed uncertainty about his boxing career.
What did Tim Tszyu say after his losses?
“I crashed. I need to figure out my future,” Tszyu told reporters after the Murtazaliev loss, according to multiple outlets. Following the Fundora rematch, he was more guarded, stating he would take time before making any decision (BoxingScene – boxing‑news platform). As of early 2026, no retirement announcement has been made.
“I’ve crashed, but I’ll figure it out. Boxing is all I know.”
— Tim Tszyu, speaking after the Murtazaliev loss (via Boxing News 24)
The catch: Three losses in four title fights is a tough statistic to overcome. At 31, Tszyu still has time to rebuild, but he may need to accept a step‑down opponent to regain confidence.
Where can I watch the Tim Tszyu fight?
Tszyu’s fights are broadcast in Australia on Kayo Sports and Foxtel. Streaming is available via a Kayo Sports subscription (about AUD 25/month) (ABC News Australia – national broadcaster). For international viewers, Premier Boxing Champions events are often carried on Amazon Prime Video or Showtime in the U.S. and on FITE TV globally.
What time does the Tszyu fight start?
Start times are confirmed closer to the event. For his December 2025 comeback, the main event ring walks were scheduled for approximately 10:00 p.m. AEDT (The Ring – boxing authority magazine). Always check local listings before fight night.
What is Tim Tszyu’s next fight?
No opponent or date has been officially announced as of early 2026. After his December 2025 unanimous‑decision win over Anthony Velazquez, Tszyu’s camp has not committed to a return date. He has been linked to potential bouts against Erickson Lubin or a third fight with Fundora, but nothing is signed (FOX Sports – sports broadcaster).
How tall is Tim Tszyu?
According to BoxRec and multiple official sources, Tim Tszyu stands 5 feet 8.5 inches (1.74 m) tall with a reach of 71.5 inches (182 cm) (Wikipedia). He fights in the super‑welterweight (light‑middleweight) division, which has a 154‑lb limit.
What is Tim Tszyu’s net worth?
Tszyu’s net worth has not been publicly disclosed. Any figures floating online are speculative. He earned a career‑high purse of approximately AUD 3.5 million for the Fundora rematch, but his total wealth remains unconfirmed (Sportskeeda – sports‑news site).
Who is Tim Tszyu’s wife?
Tszyu keeps his personal life private. No confirmed information about a wife or partner is publicly available. He has been photographed with a woman at events, but her identity has not been officially confirmed by the boxer’s camp.
Who is Tim Tszyu’s brother?
Nikita Tszyu (born 1997) is Tim’s younger brother and also a professional boxer. Nikita is undefeated and fights as a junior‑middleweight. The brothers have sometimes shared training camps but compete in different weight classes (Wikipedia).
Fans want the Tszyu brothers to share a card, but timing and weight differences have prevented it. Nikita is still building his resume, while Tim needs a credible opponent for a meaningful comeback.
Five physical specs, one pattern: Tszyu is undersized for the division but compensates with pressure and volume.
| Spec | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Height | 5′8.5″ (1.74 m) |
| Reach | 71.5 in (182 cm) |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Division | Super‑welterweight (154 lb) |
| KO ratio | 64.3% (18 KOs in 28 wins) |
| Age | 31 (born 2 Nov 1994) |
Upsides
- Proven ability to defeat top‑10 opponents (Harrison, Mendoza, Horn)
- High‑volume pressure style entertains fans
- Youth and recovery from KO losses possible
- Strong fan base in Australia guarantees marquee events
Downsides
- Three consecutive stoppage losses in title fights
- Struggles against taller, long‑reach opponents (Fundora, Murtazaliev)
- Uncertainty about retirement clouds momentum
- No confirmed next opponent — inactivity risk
The takeaway: His physical specs are not imposing for the weight class, which makes his pressure-based style both a weapon and a risk against taller opponents.
Timeline
- – Born in Moscow, Russia.
- – Defeats Tony Harrison for WBO interim light‑middleweight title (Wikipedia).
- – Upgraded to full WBO champion after Jermell Charlo vacates.
- – Loses WBO title to Sebastian Fundora via TKO.
- – Knocked out by Bakhram Murtazaliev.
- – TKO win over Joey Spencer for vacant WBO Inter‑Continental title (Wikipedia).
- – Loses WBC title fight to Fundora by retirement.
- – UD win over Anthony Velazquez in Sydney (The Ring).
- – Contemplates retirement; future uncertain.
The arc: From a 2023 title high to three stoppage losses in 2024 and 2025, Tszyu’s timeline keeps returning to the same question: how much more damage can a comeback take?
Tszyu enters 2026 with a new trainer and adviser, according to BoxingScene. If he can fix the defensive lapses that cost him against tall fighters, he still has the punching power to hang with the division’s elite.
Clarity check
Confirmed facts
- Record: 28-3-0 (18 KOs) – Premier Boxing Champions
- Losses to Fundora (×2) and Murtazaliev
- Height 5′8.5″ – BoxRec
- Brother Nikita is a professional boxer
- WBO light‑middleweight champion 2023–2024
- Biggest win: Tony Harrison (March 2023)
What’s unclear
- Net worth (no verified sources)
- Next opponent and fight date
- Whether he will retire
- Wife’s name (not publicly confirmed)
- Exact earnings from 2025 fights
- Whether a third Fundora fight helps or hurts his career
The read: The confirmed facts are stable, but the open questions decide whether Tszyu is a contender again or a risk to himself.
Quotes from the corner
“I crashed. I need to figure out my future. I don’t know what’s next.”
— Tim Tszyu, after losing to Bakhram Murtazaliev (via Boxing News 24)
“Tim Tszyu determined to push forward, will headline December 17 show in Sydney.”
— BoxingScene headline, November 2025
The tension: Tszyu’s words swing between resolve and uncertainty, and the BoxingScene headline only sharpens the split: he plans to fight, but the plan after that remains open.
Tim Tszyu has rebuilt twice already. The question is whether a third rebuild is possible — or wise. For Australian boxing fans, the hope is clear: see the Phoenix rise one more time. For the Tszyu camp, the choice is equally stark: take a winnable fight to restore momentum, or risk another high‑stakes bout that could end his career at 31. The next six months will decide.
Frequently asked questions
What is Tim Tszyu’s nickname?
Phoenix.
What weight class does Tim Tszyu fight in?
Light‑middleweight (super‑welterweight), 154‑lb limit.
How many knockouts does Tim Tszyu have?
18 knockouts in 28 wins (64.3% KO ratio).
Who is Tim Tszyu’s trainer?
Tszyu has worked with multiple trainers; most recently he brought in a new adviser and trainer for his December 2025 comeback, but the name has not been formally confirmed.
Has Tim Tszyu ever fought outside Australia?
Yes, he fought Sebastian Fundora in March 2024 at the T‑Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, and again in July 2025 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Paradise, Nevada (Wikipedia).
What is Tim Tszyu’s reach?
71.5 inches (182 cm).
Is Tim Tszyu related to Kostya Tszyu?
Tim is the son of Kostya Tszyu, the legendary Russian‑Australian former undisputed light‑welterweight champion.
What is the biggest knockout in Tim Tszyu’s career?
His third‑round KO of Dennis Hogan in March 2021 is often cited, but his stoppage of Joey Spencer in April 2025 was also a career‑resurrecting finish.
The bottom line: The record is settled; the comeback is not.
Victoria Hayes is Editor-in-Chief at Aussie Wire Hub, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.