Tim Tszyu eyes blockbuster bout in Australia as he prepares for world-title revenge on American soil

Tim Tszyu is less than a month away from his world-title revenge mission in America. But the former world champion wants to stay busy and is eyeing an Australian comeback fight to finish 2024.

Tim Tszyu says he is keen to fight in Australia again as the ‘Soul Taker’ looks to bring a world-title home ahead of a proposed comeback bout Down Under around Christmas.

This masthead can reveal Tszyu is eyeing a return to Australia in late December, possibly as a two-time world champion pending his blockbuster against Russian Bakhram Murtazaliev on Sunday, October 20 (AEST).

Stung by his bloody loss to Sebastian Fundora in Las Vegas, Tszyu (24-1, 17KO) is launching an American revenge mission when he takes on Murtazaliev (22-0, 16KO) for the IBF super welterweight world title in Orlando.

Tszyu held a press conference with American media on Wednesday vowing to deliver a “bad-ass” performance by mauling Murtazaliev as a precursor to a planned world-title defence in Australia.

The son of Kostya is keen to stay busy and won’t be satisfied with beating Murtazaliev to draw the curtain on 2024, confirming he wants a third fight back in Australia before the New Year.

Tim Tszyu is keen to finish the year with a blockbuster bout in Australia. Picture: Getty Images

“It is important to remain connected with the Aussie fans because they are the ones who put me into this position,” Tszyu said.

“When I go into a fight, I feel I have a whole country behind me, so it’s a good feeling.

“Of course I would love to fight back in Australia for the fans, it means a lot.

“We’re a small little island, we’re deserted from the rest of the world.

“Even to LA (Los Angeles) it’s a 15-hour flight.

“But we have some talent out there (in Australia). A lot of fighters. We have this stigma that Aussies are tough bastards who just fight but we like to have a crack and we know what we are doing.

“It’s nice to be on top of that with the other Aussie combat athletes.”

Tim Tszyu had a bloody fight against Sebastian Fundora in March. Picture: Getty Images

It’s understood American trio Erickson Lubin, Errol Spence Jr and long-time nemesis Jermell Charlo are options for a Christmas cracker in Australia, with Lubin a likely front-runner.

Tszyu was due to have an Australian comeback fight on September 22, but that was scuppered after negotiations re-directed the 29-year-old to a showdown with the dangerous Murtazaliev on American soil.

In March, Tszyu lost his WBO world-title — and crashed to his first career loss — in the US after suffering a shocking head gash against Fundora, but the Land of Opportunity holds no fears for the Sydneysider.

Defending IBF champ Murtazaliev is unbeaten in his 10-year career as a pro, but Tszyu is brimming with confidence after being cleared by doctors of a head cut that required 15 stitches and promised a ruthless Russian rout.

“I’m bringing the heat,“ Tszyu said.

“Hopefully he doesn’t take a step back, because everyone knows my style.

Tszyu takes on unbeaten Russian Bakhram Murtazaliev for the IBF world title on October 20.

“You will see a bad-ass performance. The level will be ruthless and something that shocks people and shocks my opponent as well.”

Tszyu’s team came under fire for not protecting their fighter against Fundora, but the former world champion has no regrets about his Vegas bloodbath, pledging to atone in Orlando.

“Forfeiting is not my blood,” he said.

“I would rather die in the ring, that’s the mentality I’ve got.

“Losing the belt, it feels like you have to get back to the drawing board.

“There’s no fear in me. Whoever they call the ‘bad guy’ in this division, give him to me, feed him to me.

“He (Murtazaliev) has the dog in him and that presents a tremendous task.

“But nothing is supposed to be easy on the road to the top. There is no easy fight. If you want the big bucks, you have to go through the fire and right now, I will go through the fire.

“I want to be the shot caller and put on the big fights and you do that by having the straps.”

Originally published as Tim Tszyu eyes blockbuster bout in Australia as he prepares for world-title revenge on American soil